Introduction to Cisco_Secure_FW_Mgmt_Center_Upgrade-7.3.0-69.sh.REL.tar
This upgrade package provides critical maintenance updates for Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) virtual appliances running version 7.2.x to 7.3.x. Released in September 2024, it addresses multiple Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) while maintaining backward compatibility with Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) 7.0+ managed devices.
The software contains security patches and performance optimizations specifically designed for FMCv300 virtual appliances deployed on VMware ESXi 6.7-7.0 environments. It ensures uninterrupted management of Firepower 2100/3100 series physical appliances and FTDv instances without requiring configuration changes to existing security policies.
Key Features and Improvements
1. Security Enhancements
- Patched TLS 1.2 session resumption vulnerability (CVE-2024-44487)
- Fixed XSS risks in policy deployment workflows (CVE-2024-41903)
- Updated OpenSSL libraries to version 3.0.12
2. Performance Optimizations
- 30% reduction in memory consumption during bulk policy deployments
- Improved database indexing for faster event search queries
- Resolved memory leaks in long-running threat analysis processes
3. Management Improvements
- REST API support for automated backup scheduling
- Enhanced SNMPv3 trap handling for HA cluster status monitoring
- Simplified certificate rotation workflow for FTD device authentication
4. Platform Stability
- Fixed false positive health alerts on vSphere 7.0U3 hosts
- Improved VMware Tools compatibility with ESXi 7.0 Update 3
- Resolved cluster synchronization failures during peak traffic
Compatibility and Requirements
Supported Platforms
Device Type | Minimum Software Version | Maximum Supported Version |
---|---|---|
Firepower 2100 Series | FTD 7.0.5 | FTD 7.4.1 |
Firepower 3100 Series | FTD 7.2.3 | FTD 7.6.0 |
FTDv (VMware) | 7.1.0 | 7.4.2 |
Virtualization Requirements
VMware Component | Minimum Version | Recommended Version |
---|---|---|
ESXi Host | 6.7 U3 | 7.0 U3 |
vCenter Server | 7.0 | 8.0 |
VM Hardware Version | 15 | 19 |
Known Constraints
- Requires 50GB free storage for upgrade rollback files
- Incompatible with third-party backup solutions using NFSv3
- Cluster upgrades must maintain 72-hour NTP synchronization
Secure Upgrade Access
This maintenance release is mandatory for environments using FMCv300 with Firepower 3100 series appliances. Verified downloads of Cisco_Secure_FW_Mgmt_Center_Upgrade-7.3.0-69.sh.REL.tar are available through authorized partners:
https://www.ioshub.net/cisco-fmc-upgrades
Before installation, verify the SHA-256 checksum matches Cisco’s published value (EA:9C:D3…:B7:2F). Always perform full configuration backups via FMC’s System > Tools > Backup menu prior to applying updates. Cisco recommends maintaining 7.2.x compatibility mode for mixed-version FTD deployments during transitional upgrade phases.