SYSTEM code execution via OpenSSL configuration search
Published Dec 22, 2022 · Updated Apr 16, 2025
Local privilege escalation in Mozilla VPN before 2.7.1 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The privileged VPN process permits OpenSSL to load its configuration from an unsecured directory, so a planted configuration controls privileged initialization. Local access with limited privileges is required; successful exploitation runs attacker-controlled code with the service's SYSTEM authority.
Summary
What happened
Local privilege escalation in Mozilla VPN before 2.7.1 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The privileged VPN process permits OpenSSL to load its configuration from an unsecured directory, so a planted configuration controls privileged initialization. Local access with limited privileges is required; successful exploitation runs attacker-controlled code with the service's SYSTEM authority.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-0517
- Published
- Dec 22, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 16, 2025
- Vendor
- Mozilla
- Product
- Mozilla VPN
- Classifications
- CWE-434, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 22, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 16, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <2.7.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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