CVE-2023-20177

A vulnerability in the SSL file policy implementation of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software that occurs when the SSL/TLS connection is configured with a URL Category and the Snort 3 detection engine could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the Snort 3 detection engine to unexpectedly restart. This vulnerability exists because a logic error occurs when a Snort 3 detection engine inspects an SSL/TLS connection that has either a URL Category configured on the SSL file policy or a URL Category configured on an access control policy with TLS server identity discovery enabled. Under specific, time-based constraints, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted SSL/TLS connection through an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to trigger an unexpected reload of the Snort 3 detection engine, resulting in either a bypass or denial of service (DoS) condition, depending on device configuration. The Snort 3 detection engine will restart automatically. No manual intervention is required.

Published: 2023-11-01 Last update: 2024-11-21 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2023-20177 is rated Low Risk (16.1/100): CVSS Medium severity, with low exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.01%). Mandatory action: Low composite risk—no urgent action required; patch on your normal maintenance cycle and revisit priority if CVSS or EPSS increases.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-20177

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2025-11-21 0.12% 0.01% -0.11%
2 2025-11-18 0.01% 0.12% +0.11%
3 2025-03-17 0.01%

Full EPSS history (5 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2023-20177

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
4.0 3.1 MEDIUM
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:L Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:C)
Breaking this can reach past the original component and bite other resources—bigger blast radius.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:L)
Might cause slowdowns, glitches, or partial disruption—not a full brick.
2.2 1.4 [email protected]
4.0 3.1 MEDIUM
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:L Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:C)
Breaking this can reach past the original component and bite other resources—bigger blast radius.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:L)
Might cause slowdowns, glitches, or partial disruption—not a full brick.
2.2 1.4 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2023-20177

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2023-20177

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.0.0 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.0.0.1 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.0.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.0.1 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.0.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.0.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.0.2 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.0.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.0.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.0.3 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.0.4 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.0.5 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.1.0 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.1.0.1 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.1.0.2 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.1.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.1.0.3 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.1.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.2.0 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.2.0.1 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.2.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.2.1 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.2.2 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.2.3 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.3.0 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.3.1 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco firepower_threat_defense 7.3.1.1 cpe:2.3:a:cisco:firepower_threat_defense:7.3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2023-20177

cvelogic Threat Intelligence