CVE-2021-3613

Local code execution via OpenSSL configuration

Published Jul 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Uncontrolled library loading in OpenVPN Connect 3.2.0 through 3.3.0 allows local users to execute code through an OpenSSL configuration file. OpenVPNConnect.exe honors library-loading directives in that file and loads attacker-selected dynamic libraries without restricting them to trusted code. Exploitation requires the file to be present when the process loads OpenSSL, and the payload inherits the process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled library loading in OpenVPN Connect 3.2.0 through 3.3.0 allows local users to execute code through an OpenSSL configuration file. OpenVPNConnect.exe honors library-loading directives in that file and loads attacker-selected dynamic libraries without restricting them to trusted code. Exploitation requires the file to be present when the process loads OpenSSL, and the payload inherits the process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3613
Published
Jul 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
OpenVPN Inc.
Product
OpenVPN Connect
Classifications
CWE-427, CAPEC-471, CAPEC-38, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 2, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=3.2.0 up to 3.3.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenVPN Inc. · OpenVPN Connectversion=3.2.0 up to 3.3.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CAPEC-471Search Order Hijacking
CAPEC-38Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
T1574.001Hijack Execution Flow: DLL

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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