CVE-2024-20359 Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD): command or code injection
In plain words: The program treats text it receives as instructions instead of plain data. The attacker can run commands on the machine — often the whole device is taken over.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline May 1, 2024
What to do
- Install Cisco's security update for Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD). If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- Cisco ASA and FTD Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Product
- Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD)
- CISA description
- Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) contain a privilege escalation vulnerability that can allow local privilege escalation from Administrator to root.
- Type of flaw
- Command or code injection (CWE-94)
- Confirmed exploited
- Apr 24, 2024
- US federal patch deadline
- May 1, 2024
Ask Cleus about it
Ask about a vulnerability, an update, a weird message, or the news. Plain-word answers, free, no account.
Answering about CVE-2024-20359 ·
Questions about CVE-2024-20359
Is CVE-2024-20359 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2024-20359 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Apr 24, 2024, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2024-20359?
Install Cisco's security update for Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD). If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2024-20359?
Only if you use Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD). Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.