CVE-2024-20260

Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance and Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual SSL VPN Denial of Service Vulnerability

Published Oct 23, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 8.6 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Update for September 16, 2026: The original 1.0 version of this advisory was specific to the Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv) and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (FTDv) models. However, it was later found that this vulnerability affects all Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software platforms.

A vulnerability in the VPN and management web servers of the Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software and Cisco Secure FTD Software platforms could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause an affected device to run out of system memory or buffer blocks, which in turn could cause SSL VPN connection processing to slow down and eventually cease altogether.
This vulnerability is due to a lack of proper memory management for new incoming SSL/TLS connections. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a large number of new incoming SSL/TLS connections to the targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to deplete system memory or buffers, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The memory or buffers could be reclaimed slowly if the attack traffic is stopped, but a manual reload may be required to restore operations quickly.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2024-17975 A vulnerability in the VPN and management web servers of the Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv) and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (FTDv), formerly Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Virtual, platforms could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the virtual devices to run out of system memory, which could cause SSL VPN connection processing to slow down and eventually cease all together. This vulnerability is due to a lack of proper memory management for new incoming SSL/TLS connections on the virtual platforms. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a large number of new incoming SSL/TLS connections to the targeted virtual platform. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to deplete system memory,&nbsp;resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The memory could be reclaimed slowly if the attack traffic is stopped, but a manual reload may be required to restore operations quickly.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A vulnerability in the VPN and management web servers of the Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv) and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (FTDv), formerly Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Virtual, platforms could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the virtual devices to run out of system memory, which could cause SSL VPN connection processing to slow down and eventually cease all together. This vulnerability is due to a lack of proper memory management for new incoming SSL/TLS connections on the virtual platforms. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a large number of new incoming SSL/TLS connections to the targeted virtual platform. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to deplete system memory,&nbsp;resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The memory could be reclaimed slowly if the attack traffic is stopped, but a manual reload may be required to restore operations quickly. Update for September 16, 2026: The original 1.0 version of this advisory was specific to the Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv) and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (FTDv) models. However, it was later found that this vulnerability affects all Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software platforms. A vulnerability in the VPN and management web servers of the Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software and Cisco Secure FTD Software platforms could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause an affected device to run out of system memory or buffer blocks, which in turn could cause SSL VPN connection processing to slow down and eventually cease altogether. This vulnerability is due to a lack of proper memory management for new incoming SSL/TLS connections. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a large number of new incoming SSL/TLS connections to the targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to deplete system memory or buffers, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The memory or buffers could be reclaimed slowly if the attack traffic is stopped, but a manual reload may be required to restore operations quickly.
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Cisco
Cisco adaptive Security Appliance Software
Cisco firepower Threat Defense Software
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Cisco
Cisco adaptive Security Appliance Software
Cisco firepower Threat Defense Software
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A vulnerability in the VPN and management web servers of the Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv) and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (FTDv), formerly Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Virtual, platforms could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the virtual devices to run out of system memory, which could cause SSL VPN connection processing to slow down and eventually cease all together. This vulnerability is due to a lack of proper memory management for new incoming SSL/TLS connections on the virtual platforms. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a large number of new incoming SSL/TLS connections to the targeted virtual platform. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to deplete system memory,&nbsp;resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The memory could be reclaimed slowly if the attack traffic is stopped, but a manual reload may be required to restore operations quickly.
Title Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance and Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual SSL VPN Denial of Service Vulnerability
Weaknesses CWE-789
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
cisco
Published
Updated
Sep 16, 2026, 8:12 PM
Reserved
Nov 8, 2023, 3:08 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Oct 23, 2024, 5:15 PM
Modified
Sep 16, 2026, 9:17 PM