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Vulnerability record · CVE-2022-20759 · published 3 May 2022

CVE-2022-20759: Cisco secure firewall threat defense improper privilege management vulnerability

Cisco · Secure Firewall Threat Defense

A vulnerability in the web services interface for remote access VPN features of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, but unprivileged, remote attacker to elevate privileges to level 15. This vulnerability is due to improper separation of authentication and authorization scopes. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTPS messages to the web services interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain privilege level 15 access to the web management interface of the device. This includes privilege level 15 access to the device using management tools like the Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) or the Cisco Security Manager (CSM). Note: With Cisco FTD Software, the impact is lower than the CVSS score suggests because the affected web management interface allows for read access only.

8.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 28% · top 1.9% CWE-266 · CWE-266CWE-269 · Improper privilege management
8.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 8.5
28%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
2Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References, 2 tagged exploit
11 Aug 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

A vulnerability in the web services interface for remote access VPN features of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, but unprivileged, remote attacker to elevate privileges to level 15. This vulnerability is due to improper separation of authentication and authorization scopes. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTPS messages to the web services interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain privilege level 15 access to the web management interface of the device. This includes privilege level 15 access to the device using management tools like the Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) or the Cisco Security Manager (CSM). Note: With Cisco FTD Software, the impact is lower than the CVSS score suggests because the affected web management interface allows for read access only.

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

Affected products

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

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/orangecertcc/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-gq88-gqmj-7v24 ExploitThird Party Advisory
https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asaftd-mgmt-privesc-BMFMUvye Vendor Advisory
https://github.com/orangecertcc/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-gq88-gqmj-7v24 ExploitThird Party Advisory
https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asaftd-mgmt-privesc-BMFMUvye 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-2022-20759), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.