CVE-2022-20715Network attack vector

Unauthenticated device restart via malformed VPN requests

Published May 3, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Improper error validation in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software 9.16 allows remote attackers to restart devices via SSL VPN requests. The remote-access VPN logging path improperly validates errors produced by client connections, allowing crafted requests to reach a device-restart condition. Exposure requires an affected 9.16 release with AnyConnect or Clientless SSL VPN enabled on an interface, and exploitation interrupts services while the device restarts.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability1.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper error validation in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software 9.16 allows remote attackers to restart devices via SSL VPN requests. The remote-access VPN logging path improperly validates errors produced by client connections, allowing crafted requests to reach a device-restart condition. Exposure requires an affected 9.16 release with AnyConnect or Clientless SSL VPN enabled on an interface, and exploitation interrupts services while the device restarts.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-20715
Published
May 3, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
Classifications
CWE-20, CWE-399, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Softwareversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
8.6Cisco Systems, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:X/RL:X/RC:X

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
CWE-399Resource Management Errors
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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