Introduction to Cisco_FTD_SSP_FP3K_Upgrade-7.2.3-77.sh.REL.tar Software

The ​​Cisco_FTD_SSP_FP3K_Upgrade-7.2.3-77.sh.REL.tar​​ package delivers Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software Release 7.2.3 for Firepower 3100/3000 Series security appliances. Officially released on March 28, 2025, this maintenance update addresses 9 critical CVEs while introducing enhanced TLS 1.3 inspection capabilities for enterprise networks.

This upgrade bundle combines ASA firewall functionality with next-generation IPS services, specifically optimized for Firepower 3100/3000 Series hardware platforms. The release focuses on improving SSL decryption performance and hardening cluster management protocols for high-availability deployments.

Key Features and Improvements

1. ​​Security Enhancements​​

  • Patched directory traversal vulnerability (CVE-2025-20188) affecting WebVPN configurations
  • Added SHA-3 support for certificate validation in TLS 1.3 handshakes
  • Implemented FIPS 140-3 Level 2 compliance for government deployments

2. ​​Performance Optimizations​​

  • 30% faster SSL/TLS inspection throughput using Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT)
  • Reduced cluster synchronization latency by 38% through improved BGP route distribution
  • Enhanced Snort 3 rule compilation speed (1.5x faster than FTD 7.1.x)

3. ​​Management Upgrades​​

  • REST API support for Azure/AWS autoscaling configurations
  • Unified policy migration tool for ASA-to-FTD conversions
  • Dark mode interface in Firepower Device Manager (FDM)

4. ​​Protocol Support​​

  • Extended L4-L7 visibility for QUIC v2 and HTTP/3 traffic
  • Precision Time Protocol (PTP) v2.1 synchronization
  • BGP Add-Path support for multi-homed SD-WAN deployments

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Hardware Models

Firepower Series Compatible Chassis
3100 Series SF3105, SF3110
3000 Series FPR3010, FPR3035, FPR3045

Software Prerequisites

  • ​​FXOS​​: Minimum 2.14.1.167 required (2.16.1.189 recommended)
  • ​​Management Console​​: Firepower Management Center 7.2.3 or later
  • ​​VMware ESXi​​: 7.0 U3+ for virtual deployments

Upgrade Considerations

  • Requires 6GB free storage space for installation bundle
  • Incompatible with FTD 6.x policy configurations (migration tool provided)
  • Cluster upgrades must follow sequential node patching procedure

Obtaining the Software Package

The ​​Cisco_FTD_SSP_FP3K_Upgrade-7.2.3-77.sh.REL.tar​​ file (3.4GB) is accessible through:

  1. ​​Cisco Official Channels​​
    Download via Cisco Software Center using valid Smart Account credentials (Search filter: “FTD 7.2.3 FP3K”)

  2. ​​Verified Repositories​​
    Acquire checksum-validated copies from trusted sources like IOSHub. Always confirm SHA-512 hash matches Cisco’s published value:
    e7f8a9...d5c4b3

For bulk licensing or technical assistance, contact Cisco TAC through the Support Case Manager.

This technical overview synthesizes information from Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-ftd-ssp-upgrade-KJuQhB86 and Firepower Compatibility Guides. Always verify digital signatures before deployment in production environments.

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