CVE-2020-3153
Confirmed PUBLISHEDCisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Vulnerability
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
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.
- CVE Published
- Feb 19, 2020
- Exploitation Reported
- Oct 24, 2022
- CVSS
- 6.5 Medium
- EPSS
- —
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco |
Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client
|
unspecified to < n/a |
Affected |
CVE References
- 20200219 Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Vulnerability tools.cisco.com · Vendor Advisory https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory...
- 20200421 Cisco AnyConnect elevation of privileges due to insecure handling of path names seclists.org · Mailing List http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Apr/43
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/157340/Cisco-AnyConnect-Secure-Mobilit... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/157340/Cisco-AnyConnect-Secure-M...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/158219/Cisco-AnyConnect-Path-Traversal... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158219/Cisco-AnyConnect-Path-Tra...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/159420/Cisco-AnyConnect-Privilege-Esca... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159420/Cisco-AnyConnect-Privileg...
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2022-10-24 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/local/anyconnect_lpe.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2022-10-24 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Used in malware
Recorded 2022-10-24 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2020-05-04 18:36:22 UTC · GitHub
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Uncontrolled Search Path Element
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/local/anyconnect_lpe.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
github · Created 2020-05-19 18:59:26 UTC · 106 stars
Cisco AnyConnect < 4.8.02042 privilege escalation through path traversal
github · Created 2020-05-15 11:40:02 UTC · 0 stars
PoC for CVE-2020-3153 Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client EoP
github · Created 2020-05-04 18:36:22 UTC · 5 stars
POC code for CVE-2020-3153 - Cisco anyconnect path traversal vulnerability
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
00:00 UTC over 3 years ago00:00 UTC · over 3 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
00:00 UTC over 3 years ago00:00 UTC · over 3 years ago
First public exploitation report
Exploit observed in malware
-
18:36 UTC about 6 years ago18:36 UTC · about 6 years ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
19:15 UTC over 6 years ago19:15 UTC · over 6 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
00:00 UTC over 6 years ago00:00 UTC · over 6 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2020-3153
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2020-3153",
"title": "Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path ...",
"affected_vendor": "Cisco",
"affected_product": "Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 6.5,
"epss_score": null,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}