CVE-2010-0568 in ASA 5500
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Cisco ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliance 7.0 before 7.0(8.10), 7.2 before 7.2(4.45), 8.0 before 8.0(5.7), 8.1 before 8.1(2.40), and 8.2 before 8.2(2.1); and Cisco PIX 500 Series Security Appliance; allows remote attackers to bypass NTLMv1 authentication via a crafted username, aka Bug ID CSCte21953.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-0568 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting Cisco's ASA 5500 Series and PIX 500 Series security appliances. This issue specifically targets the NTLMv1 authentication mechanism, which is commonly used in enterprise environments for single sign-on and network access control. The vulnerability exists in multiple versions of Cisco's security appliances, spanning from version 7.0 through 8.2, with specific affected releases including ASA 7.0 before 7.0(8.10), 7.2 before 7.2(4.45), 8.0 before 8.0(5.7), 8.1 before 8.1(2.40), and 8.2 before 8.2(2.1), as well as the PIX 500 Series appliances. The flaw allows remote attackers to bypass authentication controls by crafting a specific username that exploits weaknesses in how these appliances process NTLMv1 authentication requests.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of authentication credentials within the NTLMv1 implementation. When a user attempts to authenticate through the affected Cisco appliances, the system processes the username in a manner that does not properly verify the legitimacy of the authentication attempt. This creates a condition where attackers can craft specially formatted usernames that cause the appliance to accept invalid authentication attempts. The vulnerability operates at the authentication protocol level, specifically targeting the NTLMv1 challenge-response mechanism that was already known to have security weaknesses. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authentication mechanisms, specifically CWE-287 - Improper Authentication, and potentially CWE-312 - Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information if the vulnerability allows for credential harvesting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on Cisco ASA and PIX appliances for network security. Remote attackers who can exploit this vulnerability gain unauthorized access to network resources without proper authentication, potentially leading to complete network compromise. The attack can be executed from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no local access or credentials to initiate. Organizations using these appliances for firewall protection, VPN access, or network segmentation face significant risk, as the vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass all security controls implemented through these devices. The exploitation could result in data breaches, unauthorized network access, lateral movement within the network, and potential compromise of sensitive systems and information. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising Confidentiality and Integrity, as unauthorized parties can access protected resources and potentially modify network configurations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of software updates and patches provided by Cisco. Organizations should upgrade their affected Cisco ASA and PIX appliances to versions that contain the security fixes for Bug ID CSCte21953. The patching process should be carefully planned to minimize network disruption while ensuring complete protection. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging controls to detect potential exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1566 - Phishing, as it allows attackers to leverage legitimate authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and additional access controls beyond the affected appliances, particularly for critical systems. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and monitoring for known vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices, as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards for information security management.