CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-20251NVD status: Deferred

Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2025-20251 is a high-severity improper validation of specified type of input vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software versions: 9.12.3; 9.8.3; 9.12.1, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.48% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
CiscoCisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software9.12.3; 9.8.3; 9.12.1; 9.8.1; 9.12.2; 9.8.2.45; 9.8.2; 9.8.4; and 32 more rangesNot stated
CiscoCisco Firepower Threat Defense Software6.2.3.14; 6.4.0.1; 6.2.3.7; 6.2.3; 6.4.0.2; 6.2.3.9; 6.2.3.1; 6.2.3.2; and 32 more rangesNot stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
LowLimited modification of data is possible.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H. Scored by CNA (cisco.com).

Official description

A vulnerability in the Remote Access SSL VPN service for Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to create or delete arbitrary files on the underlying operating system. If critical system files are manipulated, new Remote Access SSL VPN sessions could be denied and existing sessions could be dropped, causing a denial of service (DoS) condition. An exploited device requires a manual reboot to recover. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation when processing HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to create or delete files on the underlying operating system, which could cause the Remote Access SSL VPN service to become unresponsive. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must be authenticated as a VPN user of the affected device.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input

The product receives input that is expected to be of a certain type, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input is actually of the expected type.

More Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input vulnerabilities (CWE-1287)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software

All Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.