CVE-2020-3452
Confirmed PUBLISHEDCisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software and Firepower Threat Defense Software Web Services Read-Only Path Traversal Vulnerability
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
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.
- CVE Published
- Jul 22, 2020
- Exploitation Reported
- Nov 03, 2021
- CVSS
- 7.5 High
- EPSS
- 100.0%
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco |
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
|
unspecified to < 9.6.4.42 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
|
unspecified to < 9.8.4.20 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
|
unspecified to < 9.9.2.74 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
|
unspecified to < 9.10.1.42 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
|
unspecified to < 9.13.1.10 |
Affected |
| Cisco |
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
|
unspecified to < 9.14.1.10 |
Affected |
CVE References
- 20200722 Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software and Firepower Threat Defense Software Web Services Read-Only Path Traversal Vulnerability tools.cisco.com · Vendor Advisory https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/158646/Cisco-ASA-FTD-Remote-File-Discl... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158646/Cisco-ASA-FTD-Remote-File...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/158647/Cisco-Adaptive-Security-Applian... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158647/Cisco-Adaptive-Security-A...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/159523/Cisco-ASA-FTD-9.6.4.42-Path-Tra... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159523/Cisco-ASA-FTD-9.6.4.42-Pa...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/160497/Cisco-ASA-9.14.1.10-FTD-6.6.0.1... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160497/Cisco-ASA-9.14.1.10-FTD-6...
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2021-11-03 00:00 UTC |
| The Shadowserver | 2026-06-01 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-3452.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2021-11-03 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2020-07-24 00:39:11 UTC · GitHub
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Improper Input Validation
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-3452.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
github · Created 2021-11-03 07:27:14 UTC · 1 stars
Test vulnerability of CVE-2020-3452
github · Created 2021-06-10 05:09:52 UTC · 0 stars
github · Created 2021-02-04 16:50:27 UTC · 1 stars
simple bash script of CVE-2020-3452 Cisco ASA / Firepower Read-Only Path Traversal Vulnerability checker
github · Created 2021-01-05 14:41:13 UTC · 99 stars
CISCO CVE-2020-3452 Scanner & Exploiter
github · Created 2020-12-13 13:47:38 UTC · 26 stars
github · Created 2020-09-28 05:00:37 UTC · 24 stars
Just basic scanner abusing CVE-2020-3452 to enumerate the standard files accessible in the Web Directory of the CISCO ASA applicances.
github · Created 2020-08-13 08:22:27 UTC · 7 stars
[CVE-2020-3452] Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) & Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Web Service Read-Only Directory Traversal
github · Created 2020-07-25 16:11:55 UTC · 3 stars
Little, stupid python validator(?) for CVE-2020-3452 on CISCO devices.
github · Created 2020-07-24 16:26:52 UTC · 0 stars
github · Created 2020-07-24 15:04:45 UTC · 25 stars
CVE-2020-3452 Cisco ASA Scanner -unauth Path Traversal Check
github · Created 2020-07-24 00:39:11 UTC · 2 stars
nuclei · Created Unknown
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
00:00 UTC about 2 months ago00:00 UTC · about 2 months ago
KEV confirmed by The Shadowserver
Exploitation attested by an external source
-
00:00 UTC about 1 year ago00:00 UTC · about 1 year ago
Nuclei template available
Scanner coverage available
-
00:00 UTC over 4 years ago00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
00:39 UTC almost 6 years ago00:39 UTC · almost 6 years ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
20:00 UTC about 6 years ago20:00 UTC · about 6 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
00:00 UTC over 6 years ago00:00 UTC · over 6 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2020-3452
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2020-3452",
"title": "Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software and Firepower Threat Defense Softw...",
"affected_vendor": "Cisco",
"affected_product": "Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 7.5,
"epss_score": 0.99992,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}