Used in attacks· fix by 2022-11-146.5MediumUsed by ransomware gangs
Cisco AnyConnect Secure
CVE-2020-3153
Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows allows for incorrect handling of directory paths. An attacker with valid credentials on Windows would be able to copy malicious files to arbitrary locations with system level privileges. This could include DLL pre-loading, DLL hijacking, and other related attacks.
What this means for your business
- It affects Cisco AnyConnect Secure. It matters if your company, or a supplier that handles your data, runs it.
- Attackers are already using it. CISA added it to its list of flaws used in real attacks on 24 October 2022.
- Ransomware gangs are known to have used it.
- An attacker can use it only with access to the machine itself, with an ordinary user login, and without anyone at your company clicking anything.
- FIRST's prediction model gives it a 28% chance of attack attempts being seen in the next 30 days, ranking above 98% of all known flaws.
What to do
- 1Check whether your company or your suppliers run Cisco AnyConnect Secure, and which version. The affected versions are listed further down this page.
- 2If you do, apply the vendor's fix. A patch or vendor advisory has been published.
- 3Treat it as urgent. US federal agencies must fix it by 14 November 2022. That deadline does not apply to private companies, but it shows how seriously CISA takes it.
- 4Because attackers have used it, check the affected systems for signs of a break-in, not only for the update.
Not sure if your company is exposed?
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Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA’s wording, unedited.
Scoring
- CVSS
- 6.5 (v3.1)
- Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N- Weakness
- CWE-427
- Assigned by
- psirt@cisco.com
Dates
- Published
- 2022-10-24
- Last modified
- 2026-08-12
- Added to KEV
- 2022-10-24
- Remediation due
- 2022-11-14
- Sources
- CISA KEV, NVD
Affected products
- Cisco Anyconnect Secure Mobility Client- 4.8.02042
As listed in the NVD configuration data. Not a statement about your estate.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/157340/Cisco-AnyConnect-Secure-Mobility-Client-4.8.01090-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158219/Cisco-AnyConnect-Path-Traversal-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159420/Cisco-AnyConnect-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Apr/43
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ac-win-path-traverse-qO4HWBsj
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-3153