CVE-2023-20229

Arbitrary file overwrite via CryptoService path traversal

Published Aug 16, 2023 · Updated Nov 21, 2024

Path traversal in Cisco Duo Desktop 5.0.0 and 5.1.0 for Windows allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files. CryptoService insufficiently validates input before using a cryptographic key in a file write, allowing traversal outside the intended directory. Low-privileged access is sufficient to write with SYSTEM-level privileges, causing data loss or service interruption.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Cisco Duo Desktop 5.0.0 and 5.1.0 for Windows allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files. CryptoService insufficiently validates input before using a cryptographic key in a file write, allowing traversal outside the intended directory. Low-privileged access is sufficient to write with SYSTEM-level privileges, causing data loss or service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-20229
Published
Aug 16, 2023
Updated
Nov 21, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Duo Desktop
Classifications
CWE-22, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 16, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 21, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.0.0.0
  2. Affected versionversion=5.1.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

ClamAV · Duo Desktopversion=5.0.0.0; version=5.1.0.0

Published CVSS scores

7.1CiscoCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H/E:X/RL:X/RC:X

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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