# CVE-2020-3187: Path traversal in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software

> Unauthenticated attackers can read or delete files in the web services filesystem if WebVPN or AnyConnect is enabled.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 May 2020
- **Updated:** 15 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5f48-6vm9-w28v

## What is CVE-2020-3187?

CVE-2020-3187 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software, published on 6 May 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official 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 obtain read and delete access to sensitive files on a targeted system. The vulnerability is due to a lack of proper input validation of the HTTP URL. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request containing directory traversal character sequences. An exploit could allow the attacker to view or delete arbitrary files on the targeted system. When the device is reloaded after exploitation of this vulnerability, any files that were deleted are restored. The attacker can only view and delete files within the web services file system. This file system is enabled when the affected device is configured with either WebVPN or AnyConnect features. This vulnerability can not be used to obtain access to ASA or FTD system files or underlying operating system (OS) files. Reloading the affected device will restore all files within the web services file system.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-3187?

It affects 14 products.


Products: Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software, Cisco Asa 5505 Firmware, Cisco Asa 5510 Firmware, Cisco Asa 5512-X Firmware, Cisco Asa 5515-X Firmware, Cisco Asa 5520 Firmware, Cisco Asa 5525-X Firmware, Cisco Asa 5540 Firmware, Cisco Asa 5545-X Firmware, Cisco Asa 5550 Firmware, Cisco Asa 5555-X Firmware, Cisco Asa 5580 Firmware, Cisco Asa 5585-X Firmware, Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-3187?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-3187 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-3187 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-3187 exists.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/CrackerCat/CVE-2020-3187 (github_poc): https://github.com/CrackerCat/CVE-2020-3187
- Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software/Cisco Firepower Threat Defense - Directory Traversal (github_poc): https://github.com/Cappricio-Securities/CVE-2020-3187
- Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software 9.7 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion (exploitdb)
- https://github.com/1337in/CVE-2020-3187 (github_poc): https://github.com/1337in/CVE-2020-3187
- https://github.com/sujaygr8/CVE-2020-3187 (github_poc): https://github.com/sujaygr8/CVE-2020-3187
- Batch scanning site. (github_poc): https://github.com/sunyyer/CVE-2020-3187-Scanlist

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software

- [CVE-2025-20333](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20333/): Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Buffer Overflow (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-6366](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6366/): Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) SNMP Buffer Overflow (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-20349](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20349/): Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Heap Inspection (high 8.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-20353](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20353/): Cisco ASA and FTD Denial of Service (high 8.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-6367](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6367/): Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) CLI Remote Code Execution (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-3187 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-3187 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software, published on 6 May 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-3187 exists.

Affected product: Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3187/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3187/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-3187
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3187
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-3187

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3187/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.