CVE-2020-3153: Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Vulnerability (Pentest Lab Guide)

CVE-2020-3153: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-03-29T00:01:38.470Z. This file is automatically regenerated every 30 minutes by the CVE AI enrichment job using web sources (NVD, MITRE, CISA KEV, GitHub).

Executive Technical Summary

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.

Context preserved from previous revision: 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. 1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.

Technical Details

CVE: CVE-2020-3153
KEV date added: 2022-10-24
KEV due date: 2022-11-14
NVD published: 2020-02-19
NVD modified: 2025-10-28
MITRE modified: 2025-10-21
CVSS base score: 6.5
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
CVSS exploitability score: 2
CVSS impact score: 4
Attack vector: Local
Attack complexity: Low
Privileges required: Low
User interaction: None
Scope: Changed
Confidentiality impact: None
Integrity impact: High
Availability impact: None

Versions and Products Impacted

cisco / anyconnect secure mobility client (versions: < 4.8.02042)
Cisco / Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client (versions: unspecified)

Weakness Classification

CWE-427

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

No public repository matched this CVE query in the current run.

People and Organizations Mentioned

cisco
AnyConnect Secure

Practical Defensive Validation (Authorized Only)

Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.
Snapshot infrastructure before validation and preserve baseline logs (EDR, SIEM, OS, app).
Inventory cisco / anyconnect secure mobility client (versions: < 4.8.02042) assets and confirm exact vulnerable versions with automated checks.
Patch in staged environments and validate closure with scanners + service health checks.
Map detections to MITRE ATT&CK tactics relevant to your environment and tune alert quality.

References

This content is for defensive security training and authorized validation only.