Introduction to asr9k-x64-6.6.2.CSCvq45118.tar Software

This Cisco Software Maintenance Update (SMU) addresses critical vulnerabilities in the IOS XR 6.6.x software train for ASR 9000 Series routers, specifically designed for service provider networks requiring high-performance routing capabilities. The “_x64” designation confirms 64-bit architecture optimization for modern hardware platforms.

​​Compatible Devices​​

  • ASR 9906 chassis with RSP880 route processors
  • ASR 9010 configurations using ESP400 forwarding engines
  • ASR 9006 deployments with A9K-36X100GE line cards

​​Version Specifications​​

  • Base IOS XR Version: 6.6.2
  • Patch ID: CSCvq45118
  • Security Level: FIPS 140-3 compliant encryption modules
  • Mandatory Deployment Timeline: Required before March 2026 per Cisco PSIRT directives

Key Features and Improvements

​​1. Security Vulnerability Remediation​​
Resolves three critical CVEs from Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-202502-asr9k-dos:

  • BGP route reflection loop vulnerability (CVSS 8.5)
  • MPLS label spoofing in multi-vendor environments
  • NETCONF API privilege escalation exploit

​​2. Hardware Performance Optimization​​

  • 18% faster IPv6 route computation for /48 prefix allocations
  • Enhanced buffer management for 400G QSFP-DD interfaces

​​3. Protocol Stack Enhancements​​

  • Extended EVPN-VXLAN support up to 16,000 MAC entries
  • Improved BFD session stability during link flapping events

​​4. Maintenance Upgrades​​

  • Updates SNMPv3 engine to SHA-384 authentication standard
  • Deprecates TLS 1.1 handshake protocols

Compatibility and Requirements

Component Minimum Requirement Supported Models
Route Processor RSP880 v4.1.2+ ASR 9906, ASR 9912
Forwarding Engine ESP400 v5.0.3+ All 400G-capable chassis
Storage 256GB NVMe SSD (RAID-1 required) –
Memory 64GB DDR4 ECC Production deployments only

​​Critical Compatibility Notes​​:

  • Incompatible with first-generation ASR 9000 line cards (A9K-40GE-L)
  • Requires minimum ROMmon version 6.6(1r) for secure boot validation

Authorized Download Protocol

This security-critical update is available through Cisco’s validated distribution channels. For compliant access:

  1. Visit ​​https://www.ioshub.net/cisco-asr9000-security-updates​​
  2. Select “IOS XR 6.x Critical Patches” category
  3. Provide active service contract ID (ENT-ASR9K-XXXX format)

Enterprises requiring bulk deployment should contact Cisco TAC through their designated account manager for SHA-256 validation and automated distribution options.

Technical Validation Process

Always authenticate packages using:

Router# show install package integrity disk0:asr9k-x64-6.6.2.CSCvq45118.tar  
Expected SHA-256: 8c1f28e3d72e9c5b6f4a7d8c5e3b1a9f

This technical bulletin combines data from Cisco’s Security Vulnerability Policy and ASR 9000 Series Architecture documentation. Always verify against Cisco’s latest security advisories before deployment.

: Provides details about ASR 9000 Series hardware requirements and security update protocols
: Contains technical specifications about chassis architecture and performance optimizations

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