CVE-2023-20269

Exp

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.

Published: 2023-09-06 Last update: 2025-10-28 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2023-20269 is rated Active Exploitation (73/100): CVSS Medium severity, with medium exploitation likelihood (EPSS 1.19%). Core evidence: CISA KEV confirms active exploitation (added 2023-09-13) affecting Cisco / Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense. a weakness (CWE-288) Unauthenticated remote administrative access may be possible. Mandatory action: The CISA remediation deadline has passed—treat as an emergency patch priority.

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

CISA KEV Record for CVE-2023-20269

Name: Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense Unauthorized Access Vulnerability · CISA KEV detail

Exploit added: 2023-09-13

Action due: 2023-10-04

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

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-20269

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 2026-06-01 0.88% 1.19% +0.31%
2 2026-05-19 0.82% 0.88% +0.06%
3 2026-04-12 0.82%

Full EPSS history (45 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2023-20269

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
5.0 3.1 MEDIUM
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N 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:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
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:L)
Attackers could change some data, but it’s limited—not everything goes.
Availability (A:N)
Service keeps running; no real outage angle.
3.1 1.4 [email protected]
9.1 3.1 CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N 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:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
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:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:N)
Service keeps running; no real outage angle.
3.9 5.2 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2023-20269

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2023-20269

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.1 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.1.5 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.1.7 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.8 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.14 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.15 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.17 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.20 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.24 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.26 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.28 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.28:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.33 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.35 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.38 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.2.38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.8 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.11 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.14 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.3.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.16 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.3.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.18 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.3.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.21 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.3.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.26 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.3.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.29 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.3.29:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.3 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.7 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.8 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.10 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.12 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.15 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.17 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.20 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.22 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.25 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.26 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.29 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.29:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.32 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.33 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.34 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.35 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.39 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.39:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.40 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.40:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.41 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.41:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.43 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.43:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.44 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.44:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.45 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.45:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.46 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.46:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.48 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.8.4.48:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.1 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.1.2 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.1.3 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2.1 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2.4 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2.5 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.2.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2.9 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.2.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3.2 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3.7 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3.9 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3.12 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.3.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.2 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.4 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.7 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.8 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.10 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.13 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.18 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.24 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.26 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.29 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.29:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.30 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.35 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.37 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.38 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.39 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.39:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.40 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.40:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.41 cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:9.12.4.41:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2023-20269

cvelogic Threat Intelligence