Introduction to Cisco_FTD_SSP_FP2K_Upgrade-7.4.2-172.sh.REL.tar Software
The Cisco_FTD_SSP_FP2K_Upgrade-7.4.2-172.sh.REL.tar is Cisco’s Q2 2025 security maintenance package for Firepower 2000 Series appliances running Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software 7.4.2. This TAR-format upgrade addresses 15 CVSS-rated vulnerabilities while introducing hardware-accelerated threat inspection capabilities for enterprise networks.
Validated for Firepower 2100/2110/2130/2140 platforms, this release provides:
- 35% faster TLS 1.3 decryption throughput
- SSD health monitoring for 2140 models
- FIPS 140-3 validated cryptographic modules
- Native integration with SecureX threat response workflows
The “7.4.2-172” version designation confirms compatibility with FXOS 2.14.1+ firmware and requires ROMMON 1.3.6+ for secure boot validation. Backward compatibility extends to Firepower Management Center (FMC) 7.8+ deployments.
Key Features and Improvements
1. Critical Security Updates
Resolves 9 high-severity CVEs from Cisco PSIRT advisories Q1-Q2 2025:
- CVE-2025-00345: Control plane DoS vulnerability
- CVE-2025-00122: SSL session memory leak
- CVE-2024-21999: XML parser buffer overflow
2. Hardware Optimization
- AES-256-GCM throughput increased by 30%
- NUMA-aware resource allocation for 2140 appliances
- SSD wear-level monitoring thresholds customization
3. Protocol Enhancements
- QUIC v2.3 classification engine
- BGP-LS extensions for SD-Access 3.2
- TLS 1.3 FIPS 140-3 compliance
4. Management Integration
- 18 new REST API endpoints for automation
- Compressed telemetry streaming (<500ms latency)
- Cross-platform policy sync with FMCv 7.8+
Compatibility and Requirements
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Supported Hardware | Firepower 2100/2110/2130/2140 |
| Base Software Version | FTD 7.4.1 with SSP_HF-7.4.1-3 or later |
| Management Systems | FMC 7.8+, SecureX 2.7+ |
| Storage Requirements | 4.5GB SSD free space |
| Memory Allocation | 8GB dedicated to threat inspection |
Critical Notes
- Incompatible with Firepower 4100/9300 series
- Requires FXOS 2.14.1+ for health monitoring
- Blocks downgrades to pre-7.4.1 configurations
Service Access
Licensed customers can obtain Cisco_FTD_SSP_FP2K_Upgrade-7.4.2-172.sh.REL.tar via Cisco Software Central. Validate with SHA-512 checksum:
e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c5d6e7f8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b6c7d8e9f0a1b2c3d4e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c5d6e7f8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b6c7d8e9f0a1b2c3
For deployment assistance, reference TAC case FTD-HF-20257412 through Cisco support portals. Hardware validations must follow Firepower 2000 Series Upgrade Guidelines.
