CVE-2020-15076

Local system-file corruption via /tmp symlinks

Published May 26, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Symlink following in the Private Tunnel installer for OpenVPN Inc. Private Tunnel 3.0.1 and earlier allows local users to corrupt system files via /tmp. The installer follows attacker-controlled symbolic links in /tmp when accessing files, allowing writes to system-critical paths outside its intended temporary workspace. Exploitation requires a local low-privilege user to run the affected installer; the resulting corruption can compromise system integrity and availability.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink following in the Private Tunnel installer for OpenVPN Inc. Private Tunnel 3.0.1 and earlier allows local users to corrupt system files via /tmp. The installer follows attacker-controlled symbolic links in /tmp when accessing files, allowing writes to system-critical paths outside its intended temporary workspace. Exploitation requires a local low-privilege user to run the affected installer; the resulting corruption can compromise system integrity and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-15076
Published
May 26, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
OpenVPN Inc.
Product
Private Tunnel
Classifications
CWE-59, CWE-61, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 26, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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=3.0.1 and prior versions

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenVPN Inc. · Private Tunnelversion=3.0.1 and prior versions

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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.

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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-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CWE-61UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
T1565.001Data Manipulation: Stored Data Manipulation

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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