{"id":"CVE-2023-20178","state":"PUBLISHED","title":"A vulnerability in the client update process of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client Software for Windows and Cisco Secure Client Software for Windows could allow a low-privileg","description":"A vulnerability in the client update process of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client Software for Windows and Cisco Secure Client Software for Windows could allow a low-privileged, authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges to those of SYSTEM. The client update process is executed after a successful VPN connection is established.\r\n\r This vulnerability exists because improper permissions are assigned to a temporary directory that is created during the update process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by abusing a specific function of the Windows installer process. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute code with SYSTEM privileges.","publishedAt":"2023-06-28T00:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-08T21:14:03.615Z","severity":{"score":7.8,"label":"High","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","source":"cisco"},"assigner":"cisco","products":["Cisco Cisco Secure Client"],"affected":[{"vendor":"Cisco","product":"Cisco Secure Client","versions":[{"version":"4.9.00086","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.9.01095","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.9.02028","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.9.03047","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.9.03049","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.9.04043","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.9.04053","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.9.05042","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.9.06037","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.00093","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.01075","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.02086","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.03104","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.04065","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.04071","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.05085","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.05095","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.05111","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.06079","status":"affected"},{"version":"4.10.06090","status":"affected"},{"version":"5.0.00238","status":"affected"},{"version":"5.0.00529","status":"affected"},{"version":"5.0.00556","status":"affected"},{"version":"5.0.01242","status":"affected"}]}],"references":["https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ac-csc-privesc-wx4U4Kw"],"weaknesses":["CWE-276"],"ingestedAt":"2026-10-29T20:05:36.141Z","source":{"repository":"CVEProject/cvelistV5","path":"cves/2023/20xxx/CVE-2023-20178.json","commit":"556c9d3a8cd17e218bb8e452ba7cd619a384ff47"},"raw":{"dataType":"CVE_RECORD","dataVersion":"5.2","cveMetadata":{"cveId":"CVE-2023-20178","state":"PUBLISHED","datePublished":"2023-06-28T00:00:00.000Z","dateUpdated":"2026-10-08T21:14:03.615Z","assignerShortName":"cisco","assignerOrgId":"d1c1063e-7a18-46af-9102-31f8928bc633","dateReserved":"2022-10-27T00:00:00.000Z"},"containers":{"cna":{"descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"A vulnerability in the client update process of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client Software for Windows and Cisco Secure Client Software for Windows could allow a low-privileged, authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges to those of SYSTEM. The client update process is executed after a successful VPN connection is established.\r\n\r This vulnerability exists because improper permissions are assigned to a temporary directory that is created during the update process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by abusing a specific function of the Windows installer process. 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