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Vulnerability record · CVE-2020-3189 · published 6 May 2020

CVE-2020-3189: Cisco secure firewall threat defense uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability

Cisco · Secure Firewall Threat Defense

A vulnerability in the VPN System Logging functionality for Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a memory leak that can deplete system memory over time, which can cause unexpected system behaviors or device crashes. The vulnerability is due to the system memory not being properly freed for a VPN System Logging event generated when a VPN session is created or deleted. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by repeatedly creating or deleting a VPN tunnel connection, which could leak a small amount of system memory for each logging event. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause system memory depletion, which can lead to a systemwide denial of service (DoS) condition. The attacker does not have any control of whether VPN System Logging is configured or not on the device, but it is enabled by default.

8.6 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 1.8% · top 21.9% CWE-400 · Uncontrolled resource consumptionCWE-401 · Memory leak
8.6CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 5.0
1.8%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
13Affected product versions listed by NVD
2References
11 Aug 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

A vulnerability in the VPN System Logging functionality for Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a memory leak that can deplete system memory over time, which can cause unexpected system behaviors or device crashes. The vulnerability is due to the system memory not being properly freed for a VPN System Logging event generated when a VPN session is created or deleted. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by repeatedly creating or deleting a VPN tunnel connection, which could leak a small amount of system memory for each logging event. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause system memory depletion, which can lead to a systemwide denial of service (DoS) condition. The attacker does not have any control of whether VPN System Logging is configured or not on the device, but it is enabled by default.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected products

13 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ftd-dos-Rdpe34sd8 Vendor Advisory
https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ftd-dos-Rdpe34sd8 Vendor Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2020-3189), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.