Cisco ASA/Firepower Threat Defense internal asset exposed to unsafe debug access level or state

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as problematic has been reported in Cisco ASA and Firepower Threat Defense. This vulnerability affects unknown code. This manipulation causes internal asset exposed to unsafe debug access level or state. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-20238. It is possible to launch the attack on the local host. There is not any exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Cisco ASA and Firepower Threat Defense (the affected version is unknown). It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown code. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a internal asset exposed to unsafe debug access level or state vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-1244. The product uses physical debug or test interfaces with support for multiple access levels, but it assigns the wrong debug access level to an internal asset, providing unintended access to the asset from untrusted debug agents. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

A vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with root-level privileges. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of commands that are supplied by the user. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to a device and submitting crafted input for specific commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands on the underlying operating system as root.

It is possible to read the advisory at sec.cloudapps.cisco.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-20238 since 10/10/2024. The exploitation appears to be easy. Attacking locally is a requirement. The exploitation needs additional levels of successful authentication. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1839). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Cisco ASA (Adaptive Security Appliance)

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.2
VulDB Temp Score: 4.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 6.0
CNA Vector (cisco): 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Internal asset exposed to unsafe debug access level or state
CWE: CWE-1244 / CWE-489
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

10/10/2024 CVE reserved
08/14/2025 +308 days Advisory disclosed
08/14/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/17/2025 +3 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: cisco.com

Advisory: cisco-sa-asaftd-cmdinj-VEhFeZQ3
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-20238 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-20238
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-320191
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1839 - Cisco ASA und Secure Firewall Threat Defense: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 08/14/2025 19:49
Updated: 08/17/2025 08:18
Changes: 08/14/2025 19:49 (62), 08/17/2025 08:18 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

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