CVE-2024-20412 in Firepower Threat Defense
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2024
A vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software for Cisco Firepower 1000, 2100, 3100, and 4200 Series could allow an unauthenticated, local attacker to access an affected system using static credentials.
This vulnerability is due to the presence of static accounts with hard-coded passwords on an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by logging in to the CLI of an affected device with these credentials. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access the affected system and retrieve sensitive information, perform limited troubleshooting actions, modify some configuration options, or render the device unable to boot to the operating system, requiring a reimage of the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2026
This vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense software represents a critical security weakness that undermines the fundamental principles of authentication and access control in network security infrastructure. The flaw manifests as the presence of static accounts with hard-coded passwords that persist across affected Cisco Firepower 1000, 2100, 3100, and 4200 Series devices, creating a persistent backdoor that remains accessible to unauthorized users without any authentication requirements. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.101 for Valid Accounts: Default Accounts, as these static credentials represent default system accounts that should never be present in production environments. The presence of such accounts violates industry best practices established by NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, which mandate that system credentials must be unique, regularly rotated, and not hardcoded within software implementations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal effort from an attacker who can simply access the command line interface of the affected device using pre-established credentials, bypassing all normal authentication mechanisms. This local privilege escalation capability allows attackers to gain system-level access to the device, enabling them to perform a range of malicious activities that could severely compromise network security operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it provides attackers with direct access to the device's core operational functions, including the ability to retrieve sensitive information stored within the system, perform limited troubleshooting actions that could reveal network architecture details, modify configuration parameters that affect security policies, and potentially cause system instability that could result in complete device failure requiring costly reinstallation procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and availability of the security infrastructure it was designed to protect. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can essentially take complete control of the network defense system, potentially allowing them to modify firewall rules, disable security features, or create persistent access points that could remain undetected for extended periods. The ability to render the device unable to boot to the operating system represents a particularly dangerous aspect of this vulnerability, as it could cause complete network outages requiring emergency maintenance and potentially leaving the organization vulnerable to additional attacks during the recovery process. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through information retrieval, integrity through configuration modification, and availability through potential device unavailability. Organizations that fail to address this vulnerability risk having their entire network security posture undermined, as these devices serve as critical gateways for network traffic inspection and security policy enforcement, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to network environments.