# CVE-2023-20234: Path traversal in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software

> An authenticated local attacker can overwrite arbitrary files, including system files, via a CLI command lacking parameter validation.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 23 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vgmc-qr4h-h4cx

## What is CVE-2023-20234?

CVE-2023-20234 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Extensible Operating System, published on 23 Aug 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco FXOS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to create a file or overwrite any file on the filesystem of an affected device, including system files.

 The vulnerability occurs because there is no validation of parameters when a specific CLI command is used. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to an affected device and using the command at the CLI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to overwrite any file on the disk of the affected device, including system files. The attacker must have valid administrative credentials on the affected device to exploit this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource), CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20234?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Firepower Extensible Operating System.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-20234?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-20234 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-20234 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20234 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Firepower Extensible Operating System

- [CVE-2018-0310](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0310/): Information disclosure in Cisco FXOS and NX-OS unknown (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2015-6435](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-6435/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-1368](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1368/): Memory corruption in Cisco NX-OS Software (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-3456](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3456/): Cisco FXOS Software Firepower Chassis Manager Cross-Site Request Forgery Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-3172](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3172/): Cisco FXOS and NX-OS Software Cisco Discovery Protocol Arbitrary Code Execution and Denial of Service Vulnerability (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-20234 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-20234 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Extensible Operating System, published on 23 Aug 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20234 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Firepower Extensible Operating System. 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-2023-20234/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20234/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20234
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20234
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-20234

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20234/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.