NVD - CVE-2023-20269 (original) (raw)

CVE-2023-20269 Detail

Description

A vulnerability in the remote access VPN feature of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a brute force attack in an attempt to identify valid username and password combinations or an authenticated, remote attacker to establish a clientless SSL VPN session with an unauthorized user. This vulnerability is due to improper separation of authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) between the remote access VPN feature and the HTTPS management and site-to-site VPN features. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by specifying a default connection profile/tunnel group while conducting a brute force attack or while establishing a clientless SSL VPN session using valid credentials. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to achieve one or both of the following: Identify valid credentials that could then be used to establish an unauthorized remote access VPN session. Establish a clientless SSL VPN session (only when running Cisco ASA Software Release 9.16 or earlier). Notes: Establishing a client-based remote access VPN tunnel is not possible as these default connection profiles/tunnel groups do not and cannot have an IP address pool configured. This vulnerability does not allow an attacker to bypass authentication. To successfully establish a remote access VPN session, valid credentials are required, including a valid second factor if multi-factor authentication (MFA) is configured. Cisco will release software updates that address this vulnerability. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Metrics

NVD enrichment efforts reference publicly available information to associate vector strings. CVSS information contributed by other sources is also displayed.

CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:

NIST: NVD

N/A

NVD assessment not yet provided.

CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:

NIST: NVD

Base Score: 9.1 CRITICAL

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

CNA: Cisco Systems, Inc.

Base Score: 5.0 MEDIUM

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N

CVSS 2.0 Severity and Vector Strings:

NIST: NVD

Base Score: N/A

NVD assessment not yet provided.

References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

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This CVE is in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

Reference CISA's BOD 22-01 and Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog for further guidance and requirements.

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-ID	CWE Name	Source
CWE-863	Incorrect Authorization	NIST
CWE-288	Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel	Cisco Systems, Inc.

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Change History

10 change records found show changes

Modified Analysis by NIST 10/28/2025 9:59:45 AM

CVE Modified by CISA-ADP 10/21/2025 7:15:54 PM

CVE Modified by CISA-ADP 10/21/2025 4:19:19 PM

CVE Modified by CISA-ADP 10/21/2025 3:19:55 PM

Modified Analysis by NIST 2/24/2025 10:08:29 AM

CVE Modified by CVE 11/21/2024 2:41:02 AM

CVE Modified by Cisco Systems, Inc. 5/14/2024 8:10:45 AM

Modified Analysis by NIST 4/03/2024 12:12:23 PM

CVE Modified by Cisco Systems, Inc. 1/25/2024 12:15:42 PM

Initial Analysis by NIST 9/14/2023 12:10:43 PM

Quick Info

CVE Dictionary Entry:
CVE-2023-20269
NVD Published Date:
09/06/2023
NVD Last Modified:
10/28/2025
Source:
Cisco Systems, Inc.