Cisco released security updates for AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client and several hardware security appliances Networking equipment vendor Cisco Systems released multiple security updates on Wednesday to address vulnerabilities in its AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client, ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances, Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series ASA Services Module and Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE) software.The newly released versions of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client — Cisco’s VPN and remote access product for businesses — address four vulnerabilities located in the software’s Web-based downloader components.AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client updates can be distributed in several ways, one of which involves accessing a website that loads special ActiveX or Java-based downloader components. This is known as a WebLaunch-initiated deployment.“During a malicious attack, any website that hosted a copy of the vulnerable component could masquerade as a trustworthy site and attempt to convince the user to instantiate the vulnerable component,” Cisco explained in a security advisory published on Wednesday. Two of the vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute malicious code on a user’s system, while the other two could allow an attacker to downgrade the client to an older version.One of the code execution vulnerabilities only affects older 64-bit Linux versions of the software. The other three affect Windows, Mac OS X and Linux versions alike. The software updates for the Cisco ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances and Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series ASA Services Module address a vulnerability that could allow a remote, unauthenticated, attacker to force devices to reboot.In order to be vulnerable to such an attack, the affected devices would have to run in transparent firewall mode, have IPv6 enabled and be configured to log message ID 110003, Cisco said in its corresponding advisory.The Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE) security updates address a vulnerability that might cause an administrator to log into an unintended context (virtual instance), if an ACE appliance or module is running in multicontext mode and is configured with the same management IP address. Related content news UK government plans 2,500 new tech recruits by 2025 with focus on cybersecurity New apprenticeships and talent programmes will support recruitment for in-demand roles such as cybersecurity technologists and software developers By Michael Hill Sep 29, 2023 4 mins Education Industry Education Industry Education Industry news UK data regulator orders end to spreadsheet FOI requests after serious data breaches The Information Commissioner’s Office says alternative approaches should be used to publish freedom of information data to mitigate risks to personal information By Michael Hill Sep 29, 2023 3 mins Government Cybercrime Data and Information Security feature Cybersecurity startups to watch for in 2023 These startups are jumping in where most established security vendors have yet to go. By CSO Staff Sep 29, 2023 19 mins CSO and CISO Security news analysis Companies are already feeling the pressure from upcoming US SEC cyber rules New Securities and Exchange Commission cyber incident reporting rules don't kick in until December, but experts say they highlight the need for greater collaboration between CISOs and the C-suite By Cynthia Brumfield Sep 28, 2023 6 mins Regulation Data Breach Financial Services Industry Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe