CVE-2018-0228

What it is

A vulnerability in the ingress flow creation functionality of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the CPU to increase upwards of 100% utilization, causing a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected system. The vulnerability is due to incorrect handling of an internal software lock that could prevent other system processes from getting CPU cycles, causing a high CPU condition. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a steady stream of malicious IP packets that can cause connections to be created on the targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to exhaust CPU resources, resulting in a DoS condition during which traffic through the device could be delayed. This vulnerability applies to either IPv4 or IPv6 ingress traffic. This vulnerability affects Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software that is running on the following Cisco products: 3000 Series Industrial Security Appliances (ISA), ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances, ASA 5500-X Series Next-Generation Firewalls, ASA Services Module for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches and Cisco 7600 Series Routers, Adaptive Security Virtual Appliances (ASAv), Firepower 2100 Series Security Appliances, Firepower 4110 Security Appliances, Firepower 9300 ASA Security Modules. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf63718.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

3.5% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2018-04-19 20:29 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-08-11 19:37 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 3.5% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 8.6 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2018-04-19 20:29 UTC

Last modified

2026-08-11 19:37 UTC

Exploit probability

3.5% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-20 · Improper input validation

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software < 9.1.7.20
• Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software < 9.4.4.13
• Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software < 9.6.3.17
• Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software < 9.7.1.16
• Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software < 9.8.2.14
• Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software < 9.2.4.27
• Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software < 9.9.1
• Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software 98.1\(12.187\)

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 8.6

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Changed

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

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