Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Cisco Secure Web Appliance privilege escalation flaw. A logged-in, local attacker could abuse log subscription input handling to run operating-system commands and gain root access. It is not described as remotely exploitable without authentication.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate-priority appliance hardening issue. It requires authenticated local access, but successful exploitation could give root control of a security gateway, increasing risk if credentials are misused or an insider account is compromised.
Technical view
Cisco AsyncOS for Cisco Secure Web Appliance has CWE-78 command injection in the log subscription subsystem. Insufficient validation of user input in the web interface and CLI can allow authenticated local users to execute arbitrary OS commands as root.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to organizations running affected Cisco Web Security Appliance or Secure Web Appliance systems. The bundle does not identify specific vulnerable versions, so asset owners must compare deployed AsyncOS releases against Cisco guidance.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation.
Researcher notes
Key uncertainty is version scope: the bundle lists affected product as Cisco WSA but gives versions as n/a. Analysis should stay anchored to Cisco's advisory for exact fixed releases and any operational workarounds.
Mitigation direction
- Check Cisco's advisory for affected and fixed AsyncOS releases.
- Upgrade or apply vendor remediation according to Cisco guidance.
- Restrict appliance web interface and CLI access to trusted administrators.
- Review local and administrative accounts for least privilege.
- Monitor appliance logs for suspicious log subscription changes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco WSA and Secure Web Appliance deployments.
- Record each appliance AsyncOS version and compare with Cisco guidance.
- Review appliance accounts for unexpected local or low-privilege users.
- Check logs for unusual log subscription configuration activity.
- Confirm remediation status in vulnerability management records.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-78: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-3367 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.3 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L1.83.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
5.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20201118 Cisco Secure Web Appliance Privilege Escalation VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_CISCO
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.