CVE-2020-3433 Cisco AnyConnect Secure: software flaw
In plain words: A mistake in the software that attackers have found a way to abuse. Depends on the product — see the description and the vendor advisory.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Nov 14, 2022
What to do
- Install Cisco's security update for AnyConnect Secure. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows DLL Hijacking Vulnerability
- Product
- Cisco AnyConnect Secure
- CISA description
- Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows interprocess communication (IPC) channel allows for insufficient validation of resources that are loaded by the application at run time. An attacker with valid credentials on Windows could execute code on the affected machine with SYSTEM privileges.
- Type of flaw
- Software flaw (CWE-427)
- Confirmed exploited
- Oct 24, 2022 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Nov 14, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2020-3433 ·
Questions about CVE-2020-3433
Is CVE-2020-3433 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2020-3433 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Oct 24, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2020-3433?
Install Cisco's security update for AnyConnect Secure. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2020-3433?
Only if you use Cisco AnyConnect Secure. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.