# CVE-2020-3153: Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows Uncontrolled Search Path Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-3153-cisco-anyconnect-secure-mobility-client-for-windows-uncontrolled  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-10-24. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-3153 · Severity: critical · CVSS 6.5 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-10-24

A vulnerability in the installer component of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows allows an authenticated local attacker to copy user-supplied files to system-level directories. This is caused by incorrect handling of directory paths, which can be leveraged for DLL hijacking or pre-loading to achieve privilege escalation.

Vendors: [Cisco](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/cisco).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-3153 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2020-3153 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 24 October 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2020-3153?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, published 24 October 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows Prior to 4.8.02042.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-3153?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2020-3153 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-3153?** Check whether you run Cisco AnyConnect Secure. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows Prior to 4.8.02042

## Timeline

- 2020-02-19: disclosed: Initial vendor advisory publication
- 2022-10-24: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2022-10-24: exploited: Confirmed exploited in the wild per CISA KEV catalog entry date.

## Related threats

- [Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows DLL Hijacking Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-3433-cisco-anyconnect-secure-mobility-client-for-windows-dll-hijacking)