📄 Description (English)
Cisco ASA and FTD Read-Only Path Traversal Vulnerability — Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) contain an improper input validation vulnerability when HTTP requests process URLs. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request containing directory traversal character sequences to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view arbitrary files within the web services file system on the targeted device.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
Cisco ASA and FTD devices contain a critical path traversal vulnerability (CVSS 9.0) allowing unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files from the web services filesystem via crafted HTTP requests. With public exploits available, this poses immediate risk to organizations using these perimeter security devices. Patching is urgent as the vulnerability requires minimal attack complexity and can expose sensitive configuration files, credentials, and system information.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 19, 2026 09:37
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Critical impact on Saudi banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions) and government agencies (NCA oversight) that rely on Cisco ASA/FTD for perimeter defense. Energy sector (ARAMCO, SABIC) and telecommunications (STC, Mobily) infrastructure at high risk. Exposure of firewall configurations, VPN credentials, and access control lists could compromise entire network security postures. Healthcare sector (MOH facilities) and financial institutions face regulatory compliance violations (SAMA CSF, NCA ECC) if patient/customer data is exposed through this vulnerability.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Defense and Security
Critical Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all Cisco ASA and FTD devices in your environment using network discovery tools
2. Restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to management interfaces to trusted IP ranges only
3. Disable web services if not required for operations
4. Monitor firewall logs for suspicious HTTP requests containing '../' or similar traversal patterns
PATCHING:
1. Apply Cisco security patches immediately (ASA 9.6.4.50+, 9.8.4.43+, 9.9.2.75+, 9.10.1.44+, 9.12.4.4+ or later versions)
2. Test patches in non-production environment first
3. Schedule maintenance windows for device updates
4. Verify patch installation with 'show version' command
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patching delayed):
1. Implement WAF rules to block requests with directory traversal sequences (../, ..\ , %2e%2e)
2. Use access control lists to restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to management interfaces
3. Disable HTTP access, use HTTPS only with strong TLS configuration
4. Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement if compromise occurs
DETECTION:
1. Monitor for HTTP requests with patterns: '../', '..\', '%2e%2e', 'etc/passwd', 'windows/system32'
2. Alert on successful HTTP 200 responses to suspicious path traversal requests
3. Review firewall access logs for unusual file access patterns
4. Implement IDS/IPS signatures for CVE-2020-3452 exploitation attempts
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع أجهزة Cisco ASA و FTD في بيئتك باستخدام أدوات اكتشاف الشبكة
2. تقييد الوصول HTTP/HTTPS إلى واجهات الإدارة إلى نطاقات IP موثوقة فقط
3. تعطيل خدمات الويب إذا لم تكن مطلوبة للعمليات
4. مراقبة سجلات جدار الحماية للطلبات HTTP المريبة التي تحتوي على '../' أو أنماط اجتياز مماثلة
الترقيع:
1. تطبيق تصحيحات أمان Cisco على الفور (ASA 9.6.4.50+, 9.8.4.43+, 9.9.2.75+, 9.10.1.44+, 9.12.4.4+ أو إصدارات أحدث)
2. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة غير الإنتاج أولاً
3. جدولة نوافذ الصيانة لتحديثات الجهاز
4. التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح باستخدام أمر 'show version'
الضوابط البديلة (إذا تأخر الترقيع):
1. تنفيذ قواعد WAF لحظر الطلبات التي تحتوي على تسلسلات اجتياز الدليل (../, ..\ , %2e%2e)
2. استخدام قوائم التحكم في الوصول لتقييد الوصول HTTP/HTTPS إلى واجهات الإدارة
3. تعطيل وصول HTTP، استخدام HTTPS فقط مع تكوين TLS قوي
4. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لتحديد الحركة الجانبية في حالة الاختراق
الكشف:
1. مراقبة طلبات HTTP بالأنماط: '../', '..\', '%2e%2e', 'etc/passwd', 'windows/system32'
2. تنبيه على استجابات HTTP 200 الناجحة لطلبات اجتياز المسار المريبة
3. مراجعة سجلات وصول جدار الحماية للأنماط غير المعتادة في الوصول إلى الملفات
4. تنفيذ توقيعات IDS/IPS لمحاولات استغلال CVE-2020-3452
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies and Procedures
A.6.1.1 - Access Control Policy
A.6.2.1 - User Registration and De-registration
A.8.1.1 - Asset Management Policy
A.12.2.1 - Restrictions on Software Installation
A.12.6.1 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.RA-1 - Asset Management and Inventory
PR.AC-1 - Access Control and Authentication
PR.PT-2 - Protective Technology Deployment
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability Scanning
RS.MI-2 - Incident Response and Containment
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1 - Management Direction for Information Security
A.6.1 - Internal Organization
A.8.1 - Asset Management
A.12.2 - Restrictions on Software Installation
A.12.6 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
A.14.2 - Security in Development and Support Processes
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
Requirement 2.2 - Configuration Standards
Requirement 6.2 - Security Patches
Requirement 11.2 - Vulnerability Scanning
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
Cisco:Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD)