CVE-2020-3153
Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Vulnerability
- Medium 6.5
- Exploited: added to CISA KEV 24 Oct 2022
- Used in ransomware campaigns
Description
A vulnerability in the installer component of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows could allow an authenticated local attacker to copy user-supplied files to system level directories with system level privileges. The vulnerability is due to the incorrect handling of directory paths. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a malicious file and copying the file to a system directory. An exploit could allow the attacker to copy malicious files to arbitrary locations with system level privileges. This could include DLL pre-loading, DLL hijacking, and other related attacks. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker needs valid credentials on the Windows system.
Key facts
- Published
- 19 Feb 2020
- Last changed
- 12 Aug 2026
- Assigned by
- cisco
- KEV added
- 24 Oct 2022
- KEV fix due
- 14 Nov 2022
- Used in ransomware
- Yes, according to CISA
- EPSS
- 28.515% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 98.161% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
- SSVC (CISA)
- Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: partial
Severity scores
Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.
- 6.5CVSS 3.0, Mediumfrom the CNA (cisco)
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
What to do
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.CISA KEV required action
Historical context and remediation
This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.
No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.
Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client |
|
Timeline
- 19 Feb 2020 Published
- 24 Oct 2022 CVE-2020-3153 added to CISA KEV
- 24 Oct 2022 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue