Vulnerability Database

326,214

Total vulnerabilities in the database

CVE-2024-20481

A vulnerability in the Remote Access VPN (RAVPN) service of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) of the RAVPN service.

This vulnerability is due to resource exhaustion. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a large number of VPN authentication requests to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to exhaust resources, resulting in a DoS of the RAVPN service on the affected device. Depending on the impact of the attack, a reload of the device may be required to restore the RAVPN service. Services that are not related to VPN are not affected.

Cisco Talos discussed these attacks in the blog post Large-scale brute-force activity targeting VPNs, SSH services with commonly used login credentials.

  • Published: Oct 23, 2024
  • Updated: Nov 4, 2025
  • CVE: CVE-2024-20481
  • Severity: Medium
  • Exploit:

CVSS v3:

  • Severity: Medium
  • Score: 5.8
  • AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:L

CWEs:

Software From Fixed in
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3 6.2.3.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.1 6.2.3.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.2 6.2.3.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.3 6.2.3.3.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.4 6.2.3.4.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.5 6.2.3.5.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.6 6.2.3.6.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.7 6.2.3.7.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.8 6.2.3.8.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.10 6.2.3.10.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.11 6.2.3.11.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.9 6.2.3.9.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.12 6.2.3.12.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.13 6.2.3.13.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.14 6.2.3.14.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.15 6.2.3.15.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.16 6.2.3.16.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.17 6.2.3.17.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.2.3.18 6.2.3.18.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.0 6.6.0.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.0.1 6.6.0.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.1 6.6.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.3 6.6.3.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.4 6.6.4.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.5 6.6.5.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.5.1 6.6.5.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.5.2 6.6.5.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.7 6.6.7.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.7.1 6.6.7.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0 6.4.0.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.1 6.4.0.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.3 6.4.0.3.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.2 6.4.0.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.4 6.4.0.4.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.5 6.4.0.5.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.6 6.4.0.6.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.7 6.4.0.7.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.8 6.4.0.8.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.9 6.4.0.9.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.10 6.4.0.10.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.11 6.4.0.11.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.12 6.4.0.12.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.13 6.4.0.13.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.14 6.4.0.14.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.15 6.4.0.15.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.16 6.4.0.16.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.17 6.4.0.17.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.7.0 6.7.0.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.7.0.1 6.7.0.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.7.0.2 6.7.0.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.7.0.3 6.7.0.3.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.0 7.0.0.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.0.1 7.0.0.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.1 7.0.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.1.1 7.0.1.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.2 7.0.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.2.1 7.0.2.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.3 7.0.3.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.4 7.0.4.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.5 7.0.5.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.6 7.0.6.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.6.1 7.0.6.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.1.0 7.1.0.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.1.0.1 7.1.0.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.1.0.2 7.1.0.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.1.0.3 7.1.0.3.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.0 7.2.0.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.0.1 7.2.0.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.1 7.2.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.2 7.2.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.3 7.2.3.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.4 7.2.4.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.4.1 7.2.4.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.5 7.2.5.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.5.1 7.2.5.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.3.0 7.3.0.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.3.1 7.3.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.3.1.1 7.3.1.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.4.0 7.4.0.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.4.1 7.4.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.4.1.1 7.4.1.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.3.1.2 7.3.1.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.8.1 7.2.8.1.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.8 7.2.8.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.5.2 7.2.5.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.7 7.2.7.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.2.6 7.2.6.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 7.0.6.2 7.0.6.2.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.4.0.18 6.4.0.18.x
cisco / firepower_threat_defense_software 6.6.7.2 6.6.7.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.1 9.16.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2 9.8.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.18 9.8.3.18.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.26 9.8.3.26.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2 9.12.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.24 9.8.2.24.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.16 9.8.3.16.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.29 9.8.4.29.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2.5 9.12.2.5.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.4 9.12.4.4.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.20 9.8.2.20.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4 9.8.4.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.26 9.8.4.26.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.1.30 9.14.1.30.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.1.15 9.14.1.15.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.26 9.8.2.26.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.28 9.8.2.28.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.33 9.8.2.33.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.35 9.8.2.35.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.38 9.8.2.38.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.8 9.8.4.8.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.10 9.8.4.10.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.12 9.8.4.12.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.15 9.8.4.15.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.45 9.8.4.45.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3.2 9.12.3.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3.7 9.12.3.7.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4 9.12.4.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3.12 9.12.3.12.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.37 9.12.4.37.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.38 9.12.4.38.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.39 9.12.4.39.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.2 9.14.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.2.4 9.14.2.4.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.2.8 9.14.2.8.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.2.13 9.14.2.13.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.2.15 9.14.2.15.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.15.1.15 9.15.1.15.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.15.1.16 9.15.1.16.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.15.1.17 9.15.1.17.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.15.1.1 9.15.1.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.25 9.8.4.25.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1 9.17.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.1 9.8.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.17 9.8.2.17.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.11 9.8.3.11.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.29 9.8.3.29.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.3 9.8.4.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.20 9.8.4.20.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.41 9.8.4.41.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.44 9.8.4.44.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3 9.12.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.3.9 9.12.3.9.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.26 9.12.4.26.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.30 9.12.4.30.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.1.10 9.14.1.10.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.1.19 9.14.1.19.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.3 9.14.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.3.9 9.14.3.9.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.15.1 9.15.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.15.1.10 9.15.1.10.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.15.1.21 9.15.1.21.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.1.28 9.16.1.28.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.7 9.17.1.7.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.3.14 9.16.3.14.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4 9.16.4.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.2.5 9.18.2.5.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.10 9.17.1.10.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.13 9.17.1.13.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.1 9.18.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.1.3 9.18.1.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.1.7 9.8.1.7.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.8 9.8.2.8.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.14 9.8.2.14.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.21 9.8.3.21.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3 9.8.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.32 9.8.4.32.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.33 9.8.4.33.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.34 9.8.4.34.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.35 9.8.4.35.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.39 9.8.4.39.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.1 9.12.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.1.2 9.12.1.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.1.3 9.12.1.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.10 9.12.4.10.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.13 9.12.4.13.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.8 9.12.4.8.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.18 9.12.4.18.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.1 9.14.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.3.13 9.14.3.13.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.3.18 9.14.3.18.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.3.15 9.14.3.15.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4 9.14.4.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.2.3 9.16.2.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.2.7 9.16.2.7.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.2.11 9.16.2.11.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.2.13 9.16.2.13.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.2.14 9.16.2.14.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.7 9.14.4.7.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.12 9.14.4.12.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.11 9.17.1.11.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.15 9.17.1.15.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.45 9.8.2.45.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.22 9.8.4.22.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.2 9.12.4.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.9 9.17.1.9.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.1.5 9.8.1.5.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.2.15 9.8.2.15.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.8 9.8.3.8.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.3.14 9.8.3.14.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.7 9.8.4.7.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.17 9.8.4.17.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.40 9.8.4.40.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.43 9.8.4.43.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2.4 9.12.2.4.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2.9 9.12.2.9.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.2.1 9.12.2.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.7 9.12.4.7.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.24 9.12.4.24.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.29 9.12.4.29.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.35 9.12.4.35.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.1.6 9.14.1.6.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.3.1 9.14.3.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.3.11 9.14.3.11.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.6 9.14.4.6.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.15.1.7 9.15.1.7.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.2 9.16.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.3.3 9.16.3.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.3 9.16.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.2 9.18.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.48 9.8.4.48.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.8.4.46 9.8.4.46.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1.9 9.19.1.9.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1.5 9.19.1.5.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1.18 9.19.1.18.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1.12 9.19.1.12.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1 9.19.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.3.55 9.18.3.55.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.3.53 9.18.3.53.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.3.46 9.18.3.46.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.3.39 9.18.3.39.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.3 9.18.3.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.2.8 9.18.2.8.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.2.7 9.18.2.7.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.30 9.17.1.30.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.20 9.17.1.20.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.9 9.16.4.9.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.38 9.16.4.38.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.27 9.16.4.27.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.19 9.16.4.19.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.18 9.16.4.18.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.14 9.16.4.14.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.3.23 9.16.3.23.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.3.19 9.16.3.19.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.3.15 9.16.3.15.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.23 9.14.4.23.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.22 9.14.4.22.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.17 9.14.4.17.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.15 9.14.4.15.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.14 9.14.4.14.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.13 9.14.4.13.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.58 9.12.4.58.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.56 9.12.4.56.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.55 9.12.4.55.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.54 9.12.4.54.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.52 9.12.4.52.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.50 9.12.4.50.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.48 9.12.4.48.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.47 9.12.4.47.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.41 9.12.4.41.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.40 9.12.4.40.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.62 9.12.4.62.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.65 9.12.4.65.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.39 9.16.4.39.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.42 9.16.4.42.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.48 9.16.4.48.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.55 9.16.4.55.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.33 9.17.1.33.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.3.56 9.18.3.56.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.4 9.18.4.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.4.5 9.18.4.5.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.4.8 9.18.4.8.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1.22 9.19.1.22.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1.24 9.19.1.24.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1.27 9.19.1.27.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.20.1 9.20.1.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.20.1.5 9.20.1.5.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.20.2 9.20.2.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.20.2.21 9.20.2.21.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.20.2.10 9.20.2.10.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1.31 9.19.1.31.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.19.1.28 9.19.1.28.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.4.24 9.18.4.24.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.18.4.22 9.18.4.22.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.17.1.39 9.17.1.39.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.61 9.16.4.61.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.16.4.57 9.16.4.57.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.14.4.24 9.14.4.24.x
cisco / adaptive_security_appliance_software 9.12.4.67 9.12.4.67.x

Frequently Asked Questions

A security vulnerability is a weakness in software, hardware, or configuration that can be exploited to compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Many vulnerabilities are tracked as CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), which provide a standardized identifier so teams can coordinate patching, mitigation, and risk assessment across tools and vendors.

CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) estimates technical severity, but it doesn't automatically equal business risk. Prioritize using context like internet exposure, affected asset criticality, known exploitation (proof-of-concept or in-the-wild), and whether compensating controls exist. A "Medium" CVSS on an exposed, production system can be more urgent than a "Critical" on an isolated, non-production host.

A vulnerability is the underlying weakness. An exploit is the method or code used to take advantage of it. A zero-day is a vulnerability that is unknown to the vendor or has no publicly available fix when attackers begin using it. In practice, risk increases sharply when exploitation becomes reliable or widespread.

Recurring findings usually come from incomplete Asset Discovery, inconsistent patch management, inherited images, and configuration drift. In modern environments, you also need to watch the software supply chain: dependencies, containers, build pipelines, and third-party services can reintroduce the same weakness even after you patch a single host. Unknown or unmanaged assets (often called Shadow IT) are a common reason the same issues resurface.

Use a simple, repeatable triage model: focus first on externally exposed assets, high-value systems (identity, VPN, email, production), vulnerabilities with known exploits, and issues that enable remote code execution or privilege escalation. Then enforce patch SLAs and track progress using consistent metrics so remediation is steady, not reactive.

SynScan combines attack surface monitoring and continuous security auditing to keep your inventory current, flag high-impact vulnerabilities early, and help you turn raw findings into a practical remediation plan.