# What is CVE-2023-20269? > CVE-2023-20269 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.1) in Adaptive Security Appliance Software from Cisco, published on 6 September 2023. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 25%. If you run an affected version, patch it first. Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2023-20269 ## At a glance - **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list. - **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 87 out of 100 (Critical); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes. - **Severity:** Critical (CVSS 9.1 out of 10) - **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited - **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 25% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast) - **Published:** 6 September 2023 - **Record last updated:** 28 October 2025 - **Main product:** Adaptive Security Appliance Software from Cisco - **Affected products:** 2 ## What is CVE-2023-20269? In plain terms It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data and change data. ### The official description A vulnerability in the remote access VPN feature of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a brute force attack in an attempt to identify valid username and password combinations or an authenticated, remote attacker to establish a clientless SSL VPN session with an unauthorized user. This vulnerability is due to improper separation of authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) between the remote access VPN feature and the HTTPS management and site-to-site VPN features. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by specifying a default connection profile/tunnel group while conducting a brute force attack or while establishing a clientless SSL VPN session using valid credentials. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to achieve one or both of the following: Identify valid credentials that could then be used to establish an unauthorized remote access VPN session. Establish a clientless SSL VPN session (only when running Cisco ASA Software Release 9.16 or earlier). Notes: Establishing a client-based remote access VPN tunnel is not possible as these default connection profiles/tunnel groups do not and cannot have an IP address pool configured. This vulnerability does not allow an attacker to bypass authentication. To successfully establish a remote access VPN session, valid credentials are required, including a valid second factor if multi-factor authentication (MFA) is configured. Cisco will release software updates that address this vulnerability. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability. ### What kind of flaw is it? - CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization - CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel ### How an attack on it works - Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet - How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions - Login needed first: No login needed - Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything - What an attacker gets: Can read data and change data Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N` ## Is CVE-2023-20269 being exploited? Yes Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 25%. Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 25%, 25%, 25%, 25%, 25%, 25%, 25%. ### Timeline - 6 September 2023: Published - 28 October 2025: Record last updated - 16 June 2026: Exploit likelihood jumped ### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it CVE-2023-20269 scores **87 out of 100 (Critical)**, with the action "Emergency patch". Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less: - Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor - How severe it is: strong factor - How widely exposed it is: smaller factor - Threat activity around it: smaller factor 85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it. ## Who is affected by CVE-2023-20269? The published record lists 2 products. - [Adaptive Security Appliance Software](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/adaptive_security_appliance_software) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): 9.8.1, 9.8.1.5, 9.8.1.7, 9.8.2, 9.8.2.8, 9.8.2.14, 9.8.2.15, 9.8.2.17, 9.8.2.20, 9.8.2.24, 9.8.2.26, 9.8.2.28, 9.8.2.33, 9.8.2.35, 9.8.2.38, 9.8.3, 9.8.3.8, 9.8.3.11, 9.8.3.14, 9.8.3.16, 9.8.3.18, 9.8.3.21, 9.8.3.26, 9.8.3.29, 9.8.4, 9.8.4.3, 9.8.4.7, 9.8.4.8, 9.8.4.10, 9.8.4.12, 9.8.4.15, 9.8.4.17, 9.8.4.20, 9.8.4.22, 9.8.4.25, 9.8.4.26, 9.8.4.29, 9.8.4.32, 9.8.4.33, 9.8.4.34 and 130 more - [Firepower Threat Defense](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/firepower_threat_defense) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Application): 6.2.3, 6.2.3.1, 6.2.3.2, 6.2.3.3, 6.2.3.4, 6.2.3.5, 6.2.3.6, 6.2.3.7, 6.2.3.8, 6.2.3.9, 6.2.3.10, 6.2.3.11, 6.2.3.12, 6.2.3.13, 6.2.3.14, 6.2.3.15, 6.2.3.16, 6.2.3.17, 6.2.3.18, 6.4.0, 6.4.0.1, 6.4.0.2, 6.4.0.3, 6.4.0.4, 6.4.0.5, 6.4.0.6, 6.4.0.7, 6.4.0.8, 6.4.0.9, 6.4.0.10, 6.4.0.11, 6.4.0.12, 6.4.0.13, 6.4.0.14, 6.4.0.15, 6.4.0.16, 6.6.0, 6.6.0.1, 6.6.1, 6.6.3 and 36 more ## How do I fix CVE-2023-20269? 1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list. 2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list. 3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in. 4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance. ### References - [sec.cloudapps.cisco.com](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asaftd-ravpn-auth-8LyfCkeC) (Vendor advisory) - [cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20269) (Government resource) ## Questions ### What is CVE-2023-20269? CVE-2023-20269 is a critical-severity flaw in Adaptive Security Appliance Software from Cisco, published on 6 September 2023. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data and change data. ### How serious is CVE-2023-20269? It scores 9.1 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is critical. Our risk score for CVE-2023-20269 is 87 out of 100, which is Critical. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list. ### Is CVE-2023-20269 being exploited? Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 25%. ### Which versions does CVE-2023-20269 affect? For Adaptive Security Appliance Software from Cisco: 9.8.1, 9.8.1.5, 9.8.1.7, 9.8.2, 9.8.2.8, 9.8.2.14 and 164 more. The record lists 2 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page. ### How do I fix CVE-2023-20269? Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in. ## Does CVE-2023-20269 affect you? Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you: - **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website. - **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list. - **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it. - **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools. 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