---
id: CVE-2020-3514
title: >-
  A vulnerability in the multi-instance feature of Cisco Firepower Threat
  Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to escape
  the container for their Cisco FTD instance and execute commands with root
  privileges in…
summary: >-
  A vulnerability in the multi-instance feature of Cisco Firepower Threat
  Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to escape
  the container for their Cisco FTD instance and execute commands with root
  privileges in…
severity: high
cvss: 8.2
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-216
vendor: cisco
product: secure_firewall_management_center
affected:
  - secure_firewall_management_center < 6.6.1
  - 'secure_firewall_threat_defense >= 6.3.0, < 6.3.0.6'
  - 'secure_firewall_threat_defense >= 6.4.0, < 6.4.0.10'
  - 'secure_firewall_threat_defense >= 6.5.0, < 6.5.0.5'
  - secure_firewall_threat_defense = 6.6.0
patched:
  - secure_firewall_management_center 6.6.1
  - secure_firewall_threat_defense 6.5.0.5
published: '2020-10-21'
updated: '2026-08-11'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3514'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ftd-container-esc-FmYqFBQV
    label: psirt@cisco.com
  - url: >-
      https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ftd-container-esc-FmYqFBQV
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00372
epssPercentile: 0.31016
ingestedAt: '2026-08-11T19:48:28.576Z'
---

## Overview

A vulnerability in the multi-instance feature of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to escape the container for their Cisco FTD instance and execute commands with root privileges in the host namespace. The attacker must have valid credentials on the device.The vulnerability exists because a configuration file that is used at container startup has insufficient protections. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by modifying a specific container configuration file on the underlying file system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands with root privileges within the host namespace. This could allow the attacker to impact other running Cisco FTD instances or the host Cisco FXOS device.

## Affected

- `secure_firewall_management_center < 6.6.1`
- `secure_firewall_threat_defense >= 6.3.0, < 6.3.0.6`
- `secure_firewall_threat_defense >= 6.4.0, < 6.4.0.10`
- `secure_firewall_threat_defense >= 6.5.0, < 6.5.0.5`
- `secure_firewall_threat_defense = 6.6.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `secure_firewall_management_center 6.6.1`
- `secure_firewall_threat_defense 6.5.0.5`