Skip to content
Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2023-20269

CriticalExploitedPublic exploit

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…

Published Sep 7, 2023 · Updated Aug 11, 2026

Key Facts

Patch immediately
  • CVE-2023-20269 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.1 v3.1) affecting Firepower Threat Defense (Cisco), Secure Firewall Threat Defense (Cisco), Adaptive Security Appliance Software (Cisco) and 2 more products.
  • It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Aug 29, 2023 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Public exploit code is available.
  • EPSS estimates a 25% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
  • No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
  • Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

CVSS v3.1

9.1

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

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

25%

Higher than 97.9% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

Yes

4 catalog listings, used by ransomware

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2023-20269 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

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.

Known-Exploited Catalog Listings

CatalogAddedRemediation dueRansomware use
CISA KEVSep 13, 2023Oct 4, 2023Known
Industry KEV feedAug 29, 2023Oct 4, 2023Known
CIRCL KEVSep 13, 2023Oct 4, 2023Known
ENISA EUVDSep 13, 2023n/aNot reported

Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions for group-lock and vpn-simultaneous-logins or discontinue use of the product for unsupported devices.

Affected Products

324 affected entries in total
ProductAffected versionsFixed in
Firepower Threat DefenseCisco6.2.3, 6.2.3.1, 6.2.3.10, 6.2.3.11, 6.2.3.12, 6.2.3.13, 6.2.3.14, 6.2.3.15n/a
Secure Firewall Threat DefenseCisco6.2.3, 6.2.3.1, 6.2.3.10, 6.2.3.11, 6.2.3.12, 6.2.3.13, 6.2.3.14, 6.2.3.15n/a
Adaptive Security Appliance SoftwareCisco9.12.1, 9.12.1.2, 9.12.1.3, 9.12.2, 9.12.2.1, 9.12.2.4, 9.12.2.5, 9.12.2.9n/a
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software>= 9.8.1n/a
Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software>= 6.2.3n/a

Timeline

  1. Added to Industry KEV feed

    Aug 29, 2023

  2. Publicly disclosed

    Sep 7, 2023

  3. Added to CISA KEV

    Sep 13, 2023

  4. Added to CIRCL KEV

    Sep 13, 2023

  5. Added to ENISA EUVD

    Sep 13, 2023

  6. Last updated

    Aug 11, 2026

Weakness Type

  • CWE-288 Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
  • CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization

References

11 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

Is CVE-2023-20269 Running On Your Attack Surface?

Brandefense maps vulnerabilities like this one to your internet-facing assets and tells you exactly where to patch.

Request A Demo