SYSTEM code execution via writable OpenSSL configuration path
Published Jan 12, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024
Privilege escalation in SaferVPN for Windows 5.0.3.3 through 5.0.4.15 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. When a VPN connection starts, its SYSTEM-level openvpn.exe reads C:\etc\ssl\openssl.cnf from a path that low-privileged users can create, allowing that file to direct loading of a malicious OpenSSL engine DLL. Local low-privileged access and a connection attempt are required; successful exploitation grants full SYSTEM control.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in SaferVPN for Windows 5.0.3.3 through 5.0.4.15 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. When a VPN connection starts, its SYSTEM-level openvpn.exe reads C:\etc\ssl\openssl.cnf from a path that low-privileged users can create, allowing that file to direct loading of a malicious OpenSSL engine DLL. Local low-privileged access and a connection attempt are required; successful exploitation grants full SYSTEM control.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-26050
- Published
- Jan 12, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 4, 2024
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-427, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 12, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- SaferVPN Windows local privilege escalation proof of conceptfunctional · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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