Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This vulnerability affects Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client on Windows during install, uninstall, or upgrade activity. A local user with valid Windows credentials could abuse how files are loaded to run code as SYSTEM. That makes it a privilege-escalation risk on endpoints, not a remote network takeover issue.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority endpoint privilege-escalation issue. It is less urgent than a remotely exploitable internet-facing flaw, but it can turn ordinary local access into full device control on affected Windows systems.
Technical view
CVE-2021-1430 covers DLL and executable hijacking in Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows operational processes. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.0, with local attack vector, low privileges required, high complexity, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The source maps it to CWE-378.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Windows endpoints running Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client. The source bundle does not provide affected version ranges, so teams should inventory deployed client versions and compare them with Cisco’s advisory guidance.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires valid local Windows credentials and high-complexity conditions, but successful exploitation could produce SYSTEM-level code execution on the affected device.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Cisco advisory reference in the bundle. Do not assume affected version ranges, public exploit availability, or fixed release numbers from this data alone. Focus validation on Windows AnyConnect deployments and vendor-confirmed remediation status.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Windows endpoints running Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client.
- Review Cisco’s advisory for affected releases and fixed software guidance.
- Prioritize remediation on shared, privileged, or high-value Windows workstations.
- Restrict local interactive access where unnecessary.
- Monitor endpoint controls for unexpected SYSTEM-level process activity during client maintenance.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Cisco AnyConnect is installed on Windows endpoints.
- Map installed client versions against Cisco’s advisory.
- Check whether vulnerable install, uninstall, or upgrade workflows remain present.
- Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious file-loading behavior around AnyConnect maintenance.
- Verify remediation through approved Cisco version or configuration evidence.
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-378: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookupCVE-2021-1430 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H15.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20210505 Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows DLL and Executable Hijacking VulnerabilitiesCVE 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.
Creation of Temporary File With Insecure Permissions
Creation of Temporary File With Insecure Permissions represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.