CVE-2020-3452 Cisco ASA and FTD Read-Only Path Traversal
Unauthenticated attackers can read sensitive files via directory traversal if WebVPN or AnyConnect is enabled on Cisco ASA or FTD devices.
- Exploited in the wild
- Since 3 Nov 2021
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2020-3452?
CVE-2020-3452 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software, published on 22 Jul 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 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.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-3452?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software, Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense.
How do I fix CVE-2020-3452?
No fix has been published for CVE-2020-3452 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 May 2022.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2020-3452 being exploited?
Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-3452 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.
Public exploit code: 3 Exploit-DB entries, 1 Nuclei template and 23 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software
- CVE-2025-20333 Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Buffer Overflow
- CVE-2016-6366 Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) SNMP Buffer Overflow
- CVE-2026-20349 Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Heap Inspection
- CVE-2024-20353 Cisco ASA and FTD Denial of Service
- CVE-2016-6367 Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) CLI Remote Code Execution
All Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software vulnerabilities
Sources
Also known as GHSA-q26c-r46f-6fcq.