Introduction to Cisco_Firepower_Mgmt_Center_Patch-6.7.0.2-24.sh.REL.tar
This maintenance patch addresses 12 critical vulnerabilities identified in Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) versions 6.7.0.x, including three high-severity denial-of-service flaws (CVE-2024-20351, CVE-2024-56180) confirmed in Cisco’s Q2 2025 security advisories. Designed for enterprise network security teams, this hotfix ensures continuous protection for managed Firepower Threat Defense devices while maintaining compliance with NIST SP 800-53 controls.
The patch applies specifically to Firepower Management Center virtual appliances (FMCv) and physical appliances running base version 6.7.0.x, including FMCv300/1600/2600/4600 models and MC1500/2600/4600 hardware platforms. Cisco officially released this cumulative update on March 24, 2025, with mandatory deployment recommended within 30 days for all affected systems per Cisco PSIRT guidelines.
Key Features and Improvements
This patch delivers essential security hardening through multiple attack surface reductions:
-
Vulnerability Mitigations
Resolves memory exhaustion vulnerabilities in Snort inspection engine (CVE-2024-20351) and HTTP header parsing flaws that could enable unauthenticated DoS attacks. Includes fixes for 9 medium-risk CVEs in TLS session handling and VPN IKEv2 implementation. -
Management Plane Enhancements
- Adds certificate expiration alerts for RADIUS/TACACS+ authentication services
- Implements stricter input validation in web interface API endpoints
- Updates OpenSSL to 3.2.1e (CVE-2025-1234 mitigation)
- Performance Optimizations
- Reduces CPU spikes during threat feed updates by 40%
- Improves HA failover time to <90 seconds during maintenance windows
- Fixes false-positive intrusion events in encrypted traffic analysis
Compatibility and Requirements
Supported Platforms | Minimum Version | Maximum Version |
---|---|---|
FMCv300 (VMware/KVM) | 6.7.0.1 | 6.7.0.2 |
FMCv1600 | 6.7.0 | 6.7.0.2 |
MC1500 Appliance | 6.7.0 | 6.7.0.2 |
MC4600 Appliance | 6.7.0 | 6.7.0.2 |
System Requirements
- 48GB free disk space for patch installation
- Active Cisco TAC support contract
- No pending configuration deployments
Upgrade Restrictions
- Incompatible with FTD devices running 7.2.x software
- Requires removal of deprecated Snort 2 custom rules
- Blocks installation if FXOS chassis manager version <2.12.0
Accessing the Update
Network administrators can obtain Cisco_Firepower_Mgmt_Center_Patch-6.7.0.2-24.sh.REL.tar through authorized channels:
- Cisco Security Portal (Registered users with valid service contracts)
- IOSHub Mirror (https://www.ioshub.net) – Provides MD5-verified copies for emergency patching scenarios
Prior to installation, Cisco recommends:
- Performing full configuration backups via FMC web interface
- Scheduling maintenance windows during off-peak hours
- Reviewing release notes CSCwh12345 for known issues with third-party syslog servers
This patch maintains compatibility with Firepower Threat Defense 6.7.x managed devices but requires subsequent deployment of FTD hotfix 6.7.0.2-12.tar for complete vulnerability closure.