---
id: "CVE-2020-3153"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2020-3153"]
title: "A vulnerability in the installer component of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows could allow an\u2026"
severity: "high"
cvss: 6.5
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "vendor"
products: [{"name": "Cisco AnyConnect Secure", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "cisco anyconnect secure mobility client", "fixed": ["4.8.02042"], "affected": "< 4.8.02042", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["anyconnect", "cisco", "exploited", "ransomware", "vendor", "vpn-clients", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["no-anyconnect-installed", "non-windows-clients"]
published_at: "2020-02-19T20:15:15+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2020-3153", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3153", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# A vulnerability in the installer component of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows could allow an…

Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows mishandles directory paths, letting a local user with valid credentials copy files to arbitrary locations with system privileges. An attacker can use this for DLL preloading and hijacking to gain SYSTEM on the machine.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Cisco AnyConnect Secure affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:cisco anyconnect secure mobility client affected < 4.8.02042 fixed 4.8.02042

## Fix

Apply the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client update per vendor instructions (CISA KEV action); the fixed version is unknown from these sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2020-3153
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3153

## From the sources

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.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_