Is CVE-2024-20359 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2024-20359 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on April 24, 2024.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2024-20359?

CVE-2024-20359 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.0 (MEDIUM).

CVE-2024-20359

MEDIUM · CVSS 6.0CISA KEV: actively exploitedEPSS 19.4%EU EUVD: exploited

A vulnerability in a legacy capability that allowed for the preloading of VPN clients and plug-ins and that has been available in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary code with root-level privileges. Administrator-level privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of a file when it is read from system flash memory. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by copying a crafted file to the disk0: file system of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected device after the next reload of the device, which could alter system behavior. Because the injected code could persist across device reboots, Cisco has raised the Security Impact Rating (SIR) of this advisory from Medium to High.

Key facts

CVSS score: 6.0 (v3.1)
Severity: MEDIUM
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness (CWE): CWE-94
EPSS score: 19.4% (97th percentile)
In CISA KEV: Yes, added April 24, 2024
In EU EUVD: Yes (EUVD-2024-18074)
Published: April 24, 2024
NVD last modified: August 11, 2026
Status: Analyzed

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

Cisco ASA and FTD Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Added to the KEV catalog on April 24, 2024; federal remediation due May 1, 2024.

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2024-18074 in the EU Vulnerability Database. ENISA flags it as known exploited. Last updated in EUVD on October 21, 2025.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
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cisco / adaptive security appliance software
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cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
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cisco / adaptive security appliance software
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cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
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cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software
cisco / adaptive security appliance software

and 217 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://blog.talosintelligence.com/arcanedoor-new-espionage-focused-campaign-found-targeting-perimeter-network-devices/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asaftd-persist-rce-FLsNXF4h(Vendor Advisory)
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-20359(US Government Resource)

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

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