CVE-2024-20471 in Secure Firewall Management Center Software
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2024
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct SQL injection attacks on an affected system.
This vulnerability exists because the web-based management interface does not validate user input adequately. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the application as an Administrator and sending crafted SQL queries to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain unauthorized data from the database and make changes to the system. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need Administrator-level privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center FMC Software represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's web-based management interface. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's authentication and data processing layers, creating an environment where malicious actors can manipulate database queries through carefully crafted payloads. The vulnerability specifically affects the software's web interface component, which serves as the primary administrative access point for network security configuration and monitoring activities. Organizations relying on FMC for their firewall management operations face significant risk exposure when this vulnerability remains unaddressed, as it provides attackers with direct pathways to compromise sensitive network infrastructure data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common SQL injection patterns that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity frameworks and threat intelligence reports. The flaw occurs when the web interface fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before incorporating it into database queries, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL commands that can be executed within the database context. This particular vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrative credentials, which means it operates within the context of the principle of least privilege but still represents a significant escalation risk. The attack vector leverages the authenticated session to bypass normal application security controls, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed from remote locations without requiring physical access to the network infrastructure. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-severity weakness that can lead to complete system compromise when exploited properly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, encompassing potential system integrity compromise and unauthorized administrative control. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive configuration data, user credentials, and network topology information that would otherwise remain protected within the database. The ability to modify system data introduces additional risks including the potential for data corruption, unauthorized access control changes, and the ability to establish persistent backdoors within the network security infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend heavily on centralized firewall management, as compromise of the FMC system could provide attackers with visibility into and control over multiple firewall devices across the network. The impact is further amplified when considering that the FMC system typically serves as a central point for security policy enforcement, making any compromise potentially catastrophic for network security posture and compliance requirements.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including the application of vendor-provided security patches and updates to address the identified SQL injection vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit administrative access to the FMC system, while implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader network infrastructure, particularly in web applications that handle sensitive data. Monitoring and logging mechanisms should be strengthened to detect anomalous database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can identify and alert on suspicious SQL query patterns. According to ATT&CK framework mappings, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving command and control communications and credential access, making it essential for organizations to maintain comprehensive incident response procedures that account for potential database compromise scenarios and the subsequent lateral movement opportunities such an attack might provide.