Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security (ASA) Appliance and Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Missing Authorization
CVE-2025-20362 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.6 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software versions: 9.8.1; 9.8.1.5; 9.8.1.7, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on September 25, 2025, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update Adaptive Security Appliance Software to 9.12.4.72 or 9.14.4.28 or 9.16.4.85 or 9.18.4.67, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Secure Firewall Threat Defense to 7.0.8.1 or 7.2.10.2 or 7.4.2.4 or 7.6.2.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- CISA's required action: The KEV due date refers to the deadline by which FCEB agencies are expected to review and begin implementing the guidance outlined in Emergency Directive (ED) 25-03 (URL listed below in Notes). Agencies must follow the mitigation steps provided by CISA (URL listed below in Notes) and vendor’s instructions (URL listed below in Notes). Adhere to the applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are not available.
- Read the advisory on sec.cloudapps.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software | 9.8.1; 9.8.1.5; 9.8.1.7; 9.8.2; 9.8.2.8; 9.8.2.14; 9.8.2.15; 9.8.2.17; and 32 more ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software | 6.2.3; 6.2.3.1; 6.2.3.2; 6.2.3.3; 6.2.3.4; 6.2.3.5; 6.2.3.6; 6.2.3.7; and 32 more ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | Adaptive Security Appliance Software | 9.12 up to, but not including, 9.12.4.72; 9.14 up to, but not including, 9.14.4.28; 9.16 up to, but not including, 9.16.4.85; 9.17.0 up to, but not including, 9.18.4.67; 9.19 up to, but not including, 9.20.4.10; 9.22 up to, but not including, 9.22.2.14; 9.23 up to, but not including, 9.23.1.19 | 9.12.4.72, 9.14.4.28, 9.16.4.85, 9.18.4.67, 9.20.4.10, 9.22.2.14 |
| Cisco | Secure Firewall Threat Defense | 7.0.0 up to, but not including, 7.0.8.1; 7.1.0 up to, but not including, 7.2.10.2; 7.3.0 up to, but not including, 7.4.2.4; 7.6.0 up to, but not including, 7.6.2.1; 7.7.0 up to, but not including, 7.7.10.1 | 7.0.8.1, 7.2.10.2, 7.4.2.4, 7.6.2.1, 7.7.10.1 |
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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- LowSome restricted data can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.5 | Medium | CNA (cisco.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.6 | High | NVD |
Official description
Update: On November 5, 2025, Cisco became aware of a new attack variant against devices running Cisco Secure ASA Software or Cisco Secure FTD Software releases that are affected by CVE-2025-20333 and CVE-2025-20362. This attack can cause unpatched devices to unexpectedly reload, leading to denial of service (DoS) conditions. Cisco strongly recommends that all customers upgrade to the fixed software releases that are listed in the Fixed Software ["#fs"] section of this advisory. A vulnerability in the VPN web server of Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to access restricted URL endpoints that are related to remote access VPN that should otherwise be inaccessible without authentication. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input in HTTP(S) requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests to a targeted web server on a device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access a restricted URL without authentication.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Authorization
The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Divide the product into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully mapping roles with data and functionality. Use role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce the roles at the appropriate boundaries. Note that this approach may not protect against horizontal authorization, i.e., it will not protect a user from attacking others with the same role.
- Ensure that access control checks are performed related to the business logic. These checks may be different than the access control checks that are applied to more generic resources such as files, connections, processes, memory, and database records. For example, a database may restrict access for medical records to a specific database user, but each record might only be intended to be accessible to the patient and the patient's doctor.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using authorization frameworks such as the JAAS Authorization Framework and the OWASP ESAPI Access Control feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-20362US Government Resource
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
Recent Missing Authorization vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
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