CVE-2025-14979Public exploit

Local root code execution via trusted wrapper chain

Published Jan 6, 2026 · Updated Jan 6, 2026

Local privilege escalation in AirVPN Eddie 2.24.6 for macOS allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root through its helper. The privileged eddie-cli-elevated service lets shortcut-cli create a root-owned wrapper from an unvalidated path, then openvpn executes it after checking only ownership and mode rather than binary identity. Exploitation requires the “Don't ask elevation every run” option, which leaves the LaunchDaemon reachable by any local process without the GUI running.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in AirVPN Eddie 2.24.6 for macOS allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root through its helper. The privileged eddie-cli-elevated service lets shortcut-cli create a root-owned wrapper from an unvalidated path, then openvpn executes it after checking only ownership and mode rather than binary identity. Exploitation requires the “Don't ask elevation every run” option, which leaves the LaunchDaemon reachable by any local process without the GUI running.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-14979
Published
Jan 6, 2026
Updated
Jan 6, 2026
Vendor
AirVPN
Product
Eddie
Classifications
CWE-732, CAPEC-233, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 6, 2026Record 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=2.24.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

AirVPN · Eddieversion=2.24.6

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.5Fluid AttacksCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
CAPEC-233Privilege Escalation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo