Is CVE-2023-20269 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2023-20269 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on September 13, 2023.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-20269?

CVE-2023-20269 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.0 (MEDIUM).

CVE-2023-20269

MEDIUM · CVSS 5.0CISA KEV: actively exploitedEPSS 25.5%EU EUVD: exploited

A vulnerability in the remote access VPN feature of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a brute force attack in an attempt to identify valid username and password combinations or an authenticated, remote attacker to establish a clientless SSL VPN session with an unauthorized user. This vulnerability is due to improper separation of authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) between the remote access VPN feature and the HTTPS management and site-to-site VPN features. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by specifying a default connection profile/tunnel group while conducting a brute force attack or while establishing a clientless SSL VPN session using valid credentials. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to achieve one or both of the following: Identify valid credentials that could then be used to establish an unauthorized remote access VPN session. Establish a clientless SSL VPN session (only when running Cisco ASA Software Release 9.16 or earlier). Notes: Establishing a client-based remote access VPN tunnel is not possible as these default connection profiles/tunnel groups do not and cannot have an IP address pool configured. This vulnerability does not allow an attacker to bypass authentication. To successfully establish a remote access VPN session, valid credentials are required, including a valid second factor if multi-factor authentication (MFA) is configured. Cisco will release software updates that address this vulnerability. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.

Key facts

CVSS score: 5.0 (v3.1)
Severity: MEDIUM
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
Weakness (CWE): CWE-288
EPSS score: 25.5% (98th percentile)
In CISA KEV: Yes, added September 13, 2023
In EU EUVD: Yes (EUVD-2023-24448)
Published: September 6, 2023
NVD last modified: August 11, 2026
Status: Analyzed

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense Unauthorized Access Vulnerability

Added to the KEV catalog on September 13, 2023; federal remediation due October 4, 2023. Known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2023-24448 in the EU Vulnerability Database. ENISA flags it as known exploited. Last updated in EUVD on August 6, 2026.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

cisco / adaptive security appliance software
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and 196 more…

Certified products that may be affected

2 FIPS 140 or Common Criteria certified products, from automated matching by sec-certs.org.

Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) 7.4 with Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) 7.4 and Secure Client 5.1 - Cisco Systems, Inc. - Common Criteria NSCIB-CC-2400046-01-CR - active
Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual 7.4 with FMC/FMCv - Cisco Systems, Inc. - Common Criteria CCEVS-VR-VID-11510-2025 - active

References

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asaftd-ravpn-auth-8LyfCkeC(Vendor Advisory)
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20269(US Government Resource)

Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS

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