CVE-2024-27903
Published: 08 July 2024
Summary
CVE-2024-27903 is a critical-severity Unverified Ownership (CWE-283) vulnerability in Openvpn Openvpn. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 8.3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
OpenVPN versions 2.6.9 and earlier on Windows contain a flaw in plug-in loading that permits plug-ins to be loaded from any directory rather than a restricted path. This affects the OpenVPN interactive service component and is tracked under CWE-283 and CWE-434, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 reflecting network-accessible attack vectors without authentication requirements.
An unauthenticated remote attacker can place or reference an arbitrary plug-in binary that the service will load, enabling direct interaction with the privileged OpenVPN process. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.
The referenced OpenVPN security advisories and community wiki entries describe the issue and point to updated builds that enforce directory restrictions for plug-in loading. The associated EPSS score has remained flat at 0.0699 with no material increase since disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-25095
Vulnerability details
OpenVPN plug-ins on Windows with OpenVPN 2.6.9 and earlier could be loaded from any directory, which allows an attacker to load an arbitrary plug-in which can be used to interact with the privileged OpenVPN interactive service.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Requiring identifiable owners for portable devices reduces the attack surface for unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types via anonymous media.
Dangerous file uploads can be detonated in the chamber to determine malice before any production write or execution occurs.
Prevents unrestricted writing of arbitrary or malicious firmware by keeping hardware write-protect enabled except under tightly controlled manual procedures.
Scans files from external sources on download/open/execute, blocking unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types.