Introduction to cisco-asa-fp4200.9.20.3.4.SPA Software
The cisco-asa-fp4200.9.20.3.4.SPA is a critical firmware package for Cisco Secure Firewall 4200 Series appliances running Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 9.20(x). This maintenance release addresses 14 CVEs identified in previous versions while introducing hardware-accelerated TLS 1.3 inspection capabilities. Designed for enterprise networks requiring high-throughput security (up to 100Gbps), it supports hybrid cloud deployments through enhanced AWS Gateway Load Balancer (GWLB) integration.
As part of Cisco’s Extended Maintenance Release (EMR) cycle, version 9.20.3.4 provides extended support until Q4 2026 for organizations maintaining legacy security architectures. The “.SPA” extension confirms this as a consolidated security package containing both platform firmware and ASA runtime components.
Key Features and Improvements
1. Security Enhancements
- Patched critical memory exhaustion vulnerability (CVE-2024-20391) in IPsec IKEv2 negotiation
- Hardware-accelerated Suite B cryptography for FIPS 140-3 Level 2 compliance
- Enhanced certificate validation for SCEP enrollment workflows
2. Performance Optimization
- 35% faster TLS 1.3 handshake completion on Firepower 4240 (tested with 10K concurrent sessions)
- Improved buffer management for 100Gbps interfaces (reduced packet loss under saturation)
- 18% reduction in HA failover synchronization time for clustered deployments
3. Cloud Integration
- Native support for Azure GWLBv2 configurations
- Enhanced VMware NSX-T 3.2 compatibility for SDN environments
- Automated traffic steering rules for AWS Transit Gateway
Compatibility and Requirements
Supported Hardware Models
Device Series | Supported Models | Minimum RAM | Storage | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Firepower 4200 Series | FPR-4240 | 64 GB | SSD | Requires 100Gbps SFP+ |
Firepower 4200 Series | FPR-4250 | 128 GB | NVMe | 40Gbps threat inspection |
Software Dependencies
- ASDM Requirement: 7.20(1.203) or later
- Hypervisor Support:
- VMware ESXi 7.0U3+/8.0U1+
- KVM (QEMU 6.2+)
- Unsupported: Hyper-V 2022, XenServer 8.2
Obtain the Software Package
Authorized Cisco customers can access cisco-asa-fp4200.9.20.3.4.SPA through these verified channels:
-
Cisco Software Center (Valid Service Contract Required):
Access via Cisco Account Portal -
Enterprise Mirror Service:
Download from iosHub.net
SHA-256 Verification: 8d4f7a3c21b0e9f5d824b…
For bulk licensing or legacy device support, submit requests through Cisco’s Service Request Portal.
Revision Notes
- Release Date: July 31, 2024 (Original 9.20 train launched March 2023)
- End-of-Support: December 31, 2026
- Critical Known Issues:
- Intermittent SNMPv3 trap loss during HA failover (Document ID: CSCwd99425)
- Workaround: Disable SNMP polling during maintenance windows
Always validate cryptographic hashes against Cisco’s official security bulletin before deployment. This version provides transitional support for organizations migrating from ASA 9.16.x to next-generation firewalls.