CVE-2020-3452
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software and Firepower Threat Defense Software Web Services Read-Only Path Traversal Vulnerability
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Description
A vulnerability in the web services interface of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct directory traversal attacks and read sensitive files on a targeted system. The vulnerability is due to a lack of proper input validation of URLs in HTTP requests processed by an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request containing directory traversal character sequences to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view arbitrary files within the web services file system on the targeted device. The web services file system is enabled when the affected device is configured with either WebVPN or AnyConnect features. This vulnerability cannot be used to obtain access to ASA or FTD system files or underlying operating system (OS) files.
Official description from the CVE record, published by cisco. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
CVSS 3.1 High 7.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Attack vector: Network
The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet.
Attack complexity: Low
No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: None
No action from any user is needed.
Scope: Unchanged
The impact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality impact: High
Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: None
No effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: None
No effect on availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. |
| Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. |
| Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. |
| Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Integrity impact | None | No effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Availability impact | None | No effect on availability. |
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EPSS
- Score
- 0.99992 (99.99% probability)
- Percentile
- 99.98%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
- Name in the catalog
- Cisco ASA and FTD Read-Only Path Traversal Vulnerability
- Added to the catalog
- Nov 3, 2021
- Federal due date
- May 3, 2022
CISA assessment as of Feb 4, 2025
- Exploitation
- Recorded by CISA as active
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- partial
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-20Improper Input Validation
Affected products
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
- affected: unspecified up to before 9.6.4.42
- affected: unspecified up to before 9.8.4.20
- affected: unspecified up to before 9.9.2.74
- affected: unspecified up to before 9.10.1.42
- affected: unspecified up to before 9.13.1.10
- affected: unspecified up to before 9.14.1.10
References
- 20200722 Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software and Firepower Threat Defense Software Web Services Read-Only Path Traversal Vulnerability (tools.cisco.com)vendor-advisory
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/158646/Cisco-ASA-FTD-Remote-F…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/158647/Cisco-Adaptive-Securit…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/159523/Cisco-ASA-FTD-9.6.4.42…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/160497/Cisco-ASA-9.14.1.10-FT…
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Added to CISA KEV
- Record last updated
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About CubePath
Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:36 UTC. Sources and licenses