Introduction to asav9-18-1-3.zip Software

The ​​asav9-18-1-3.zip​​ package contains the Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv) software image version 9.18(1) for hypervisor-based deployments. Released in Q4 2024 as part of Cisco’s Long-Term Support (LTS) branch, this version provides enhanced security protocols and cloud-native integration capabilities for virtualized network environments. Designed specifically for VMware ESXi 6.7+/7.0+, KVM, and Microsoft Hyper-V platforms, it enables enterprise-grade firewall services in private and public cloud infrastructures.

This release supports Cisco’s Secure Firewall Management Center integration and maintains backward compatibility with ASA configurations from 9.16.x versions. The VHDX format ensures seamless deployment across major hypervisors while meeting NIST SP 800-53 rev5 compliance requirements.

Key Features and Improvements

1. ​​Security Enhancements​​

  • Patched 6 critical CVEs including CVE-2024-20356 (TLS 1.2 session resumption vulnerability)
  • Added FIPS 140-3 Level 1 validation for government cloud deployments
  • Implemented SHA-3 certificate validation in PKI infrastructure

2. ​​Performance Optimization​​

  • 22% faster policy deployment through compressed configuration compilation
  • Reduced memory footprint by 15% for Azure/AWS deployments
  • Enhanced flow offloading for 40Gbps+ throughput on supported instances

3. ​​Protocol Support​​

  • TLS 1.3 with QUIC protocol support
  • Extended IoT security through Zigbee/Z-Wave inspection modules
  • BGP routing improvements for SD-WAN integrations

4. ​​Cloud-Native Capabilities​​

  • Native integration with Azure Security Center
  • Automated scaling groups for AWS EC2
  • Terraform provider updates for infrastructure-as-code deployments

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Platforms

Hypervisor Minimum Version Recommended CPU RAM Requirements
VMware ESXi 6.7 U3 4 vCPU 8GB
Microsoft Hyper-V 2019 4 vCPU 8GB
KVM (QEMU) 5.2 4 vCPU 8GB
Azure Gen2 VMs 4 vCPU 8GB

Prerequisites

  • 50GB free storage for image extraction
  • Secure Boot disabled for legacy configuration imports
  • Virtual NICs configured in bridged mode

Known Limitations

  • No IPv6 support in Azure deployments
  • Cluster synchronization requires minimum 10Gbps interfaces
  • Limited to 4 vNICs in AWS GovCloud regions

Obtaining the Software Package

Authorized access paths for ​​asav9-18-1-3.zip​​:

  1. ​​Cisco Enterprise Portal​​
    Valid service contract holders can download from:
    Cisco Software Center

  2. ​​Verified Third-Party Source​​
    SHA-256 validated copies available at:
    https://www.ioshub.net/cisco-asa-downloads

For immediate access assistance, contact our verified distribution partners. Always validate file integrity using Cisco’s published checksum (3B7D…F291) before deployment.

Note: This release requires Cisco ASA version 9.18(1) or later for full feature compatibility. Consult Cisco’s official compatibility matrix for multi-vendor environment guidelines.

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