CVE-2023-7245

Local code execution via enabled Electron Node mode

Published Feb 20, 2024 · Updated Aug 14, 2024

Code injection in OpenVPN Connect 3.0 through 3.4.3 on Windows and 3.0 through 3.4.7 on macOS allows local users to run code in its Node.js process. The Electron-based GUI leaves ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE enabled, so a locally supplied environment variable makes the packaged runtime execute attacker-controlled JavaScript as Node.js. A local account capable of launching the client with a crafted environment can execute code with the GUI process's privileges, without network access or user interaction.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in OpenVPN Connect 3.0 through 3.4.3 on Windows and 3.0 through 3.4.7 on macOS allows local users to run code in its Node.js process. The Electron-based GUI leaves ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE enabled, so a locally supplied environment variable makes the packaged runtime execute attacker-controlled JavaScript as Node.js. A local account capable of launching the client with a crafted environment can execute code with the GUI process's privileges, without network access or user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-7245
Published
Feb 20, 2024
Updated
Aug 14, 2024
Vendor
OpenVPN Inc.
Product
OpenVPN Connect
Classifications
CWE-95, T1059.007
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 20, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 14, 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 <3.4.3
  2. Affected versionversion=3.0 <3.4.7
  3. Affected versionversion=3.0 (macOS) <=3.4.7
  4. Affected versionversion=3.0 (Windows) <=3.4.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenVPN Inc. · OpenVPN Connectversion=3.0 <3.4.3; version=3.0 <3.4.7; version=3.0 (macOS) <=3.4.7; version=3.0 (Windows) <=3.4.3

Published CVSS scores

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

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-95Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code ('Eval Injection')
T1059.007Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript

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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