Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software vulnerability

What happened

Update for September 16, 2026: The original 1.0 version of this advisory was specific to the Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv) and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (FTDv) models. However, it was later found that this vulnerability affects all Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) Software platforms. A vulnerability in the VPN and management web servers of the Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software and Cisco Secure FTD Software platforms could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause an affected device to run out of system memory or buffer blocks, which in turn could cause SSL VPN connection processing to slow down and eventually cease altogether. This vulnerability is due to a lack of proper memory management for new incoming SSL/TLS connections. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a large number of new incoming SSL/TLS connections to the targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to deplete system memory or buffers, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The memory or buffers could be reclaimed slowly if the attack traffic is stopped, but a manual reload may be required to restore operations quickly.

Affected versions

Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software: 9.16.1; 9.16.1.28; 9.16.2; 9.16.2.3; 9.16.2.7; 9.16.2.11; 9.16.2.13; 9.16.2.14; 9.16.3.3; 9.16.3; 9.16.3.14; 9.18.1; 9.16.3.15; 9.18.1.3; 9.18.2; 9.16.3.19; 9.16.3.23; 9.18.2.5; 9.16.4; 9.18.2.7; 9.19.1; 9.16.4.9; 9.18.2.8; 9.16.4.14; 9.18.3; 9.19.1.5; 9.16.4.18; 9.19.1.9; 9.18.3.39; 9.16.4.19; 9.19.1.12; 9.18.3.46; 9.16.4.27; 9.19.1.18; 9.18.3.53; 9.18.3.55; 9.16.4.38; 9.16.4.39; 9.18.3.56; 9.20.1; 9.16.4.42; 9.19.1.22; 9.18.4; 9.20.1.5; 9.18.4.5; 9.19.1.24; 9.16.4.48; 9.18.4.8; 9.20.2; 9.19.1.27; 9.16.4.55; 9.18.4.22; 9.20.2.10; 9.16.4.57; 9.19.1.28; 9.18.4.24; 9.20.2.21; 9.16.4.61; 9.19.1.31; 9.18.4.29; 9.20.2.22; 9.16.4.62; 9.18.4.34; 9.20.3; 9.16.4.67; 9.16.4.70; 9.18.4.40; 9.23.1; 9.22.1.1; 9.16.4.71; 9.20.3.4; 9.18.4.47; 9.20.3.7; 9.19.1.37; 9.16.4.76; 9.20.3.9; 9.19.1.38; 9.18.4.50; 9.22.1.3; 9.20.3.10; 9.22.1.2; 9.18.4.52; 9.20.3.13; 9.22.1.6; 9.18.4.53; 9.16.4.82; 9.22.2; 9.20.3.16; 9.19.1.42; 9.18.4.57; 9.16.4.84; 9.23.1.3; 9.20.3.20; 9.22.2.4; 9.23.1.7; 9.20.4; 9.22.2.9; 9.23.1.13; 9.20.4.7; 9.22.2.13; 9.18.4.66; 9.20.4.10; 9.23.1.19; 9.16.4.85; 9.22.2.14; 9.18.4.67; 9.18.4.68; 9.23.1.22; 9.20.4.14; 9.22.2.20; 9.20.4.19; 9.16.4.89; 9.16.4.92; 7.0.0; 7.0.0.1; 7.0.1; 7.0.1.1; 7.0.2; 7.2.0; 7.0.2.1; 7.0.3; 7.2.0.1; 7.0.4; 7.2.1; 7.0.5; 7.3.0; 7.2.2; 7.2.3; 7.3.1; 7.2.4; 7.0.6; 7.2.5; 7.2.4.1; 7.3.1.1; 7.4.0; 7.0.6.1; 7.2.5.1; 7.4.1; 7.2.6; 7.0.6.2; 7.4.1.1; 7.2.7; 7.2.5.2; 7.3.1.2; 7.2.8; 7.6.0; 7.4.2; 7.2.8.1; 7.0.6.3; 7.4.2.1; 7.2.9; 7.0.7; 7.7.0; 7.4.2.2; 7.2.10; 7.6.1; 7.4.2.3; 7.0.8; 7.6.2; 7.7.10; 7.7.11; 7.0.8.1; 7.6.2.1; 7.7.10.1; 7.4.2.4; 7.2.10.2; 7.4.3; 7.6.4; 7.0.9; 6.2.3 through 6.2.3.18 (custom); 7.4.1 through 7.4.1.1 (custom); 7.3.0 through 7.3.1.2 (custom); 7.2.0 through 7.2.8.1 (custom); 7.1.0 through 7.1.0.3 (custom); 7.0.0 through 7.0.6.2 (custom); 6.7.0 through 6.7.0.3 (custom); 6.6.0 through 6.6.7.2 (custom); 6.4.0 through 6.4.0.18 (custom); 9.8.1 through 9.8.4.48 (custom); 9.20.2 through 9.20.2.21 (custom); 9.19.1 through 9.19.1.31 (custom); 9.18.1 through 9.18.4.29 (custom); 9.17.1 through 19.17.1.39 (custom); 9.16.1 through 9.16.4.61 (custom); 9.15.1 through 9.15.1.21 (custom); 9.14.1 through 9.14.4.24 (custom); 9.12.1 through 9.12.4.67 (custom) Fixed: See vendor advisory.

Why it matters

Review the vendor advisory and exposure of the affected product to determine operational impact.

Detection & mitigation

• Apply vendor-provided updates or mitigations.
• Review affected product exposure and access logs.