CVE-2023-47267 in Standard VPN Client
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2023
An issue discovered in TheGreenBow Windows Enterprise Certified VPN Client 6.52, Windows Standard VPN Client 6.87, and Windows Enterprise VPN Client 6.87 allows attackers to gain escalated privileges via crafted changes to memory mapped file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-47267 affects TheGreenBow VPN client software versions 6.52, 6.87 for Windows Enterprise Certified, and 6.87 for Windows Standard VPN Client. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that stems from improper handling of memory-mapped file operations within the VPN client implementation. The vulnerability manifests when attackers manipulate memory mappings to achieve elevated system privileges, bypassing normal access controls that should protect the system from unauthorized administrative actions. The flaw resides in the client-side VPN software that manages network connections and authentication processes, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can exploit memory management functions to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting specific modifications to memory-mapped files that the VPN client uses during operation. This type of attack leverages weaknesses in memory management controls and file mapping procedures that allow attackers to manipulate the memory space of the running VPN process. The flaw operates at the kernel or system level where memory mapping permissions are improperly validated, enabling attackers to escalate privileges from standard user level to administrative privileges. This represents a classic case of improper input validation combined with inadequate memory protection mechanisms, where the VPN client fails to properly sanitize or verify memory mapping operations that could be manipulated by malicious actors.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2023-47267 could result in complete system compromise for any user running the affected VPN client versions. Attackers who gain elevated privileges through this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code, modify system files, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors within the compromised system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets VPN clients that are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where users may have elevated network access rights. This vulnerability could enable attackers to pivot from initial compromise through network boundaries, potentially allowing lateral movement and access to sensitive corporate resources that should be protected by standard network security controls.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, and represents a privilege escalation scenario that falls under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics. Organizations using these VPN client versions face significant risk of advanced persistent threats exploiting this weakness to establish persistent access to their networks. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond running the vulnerable VPN client, making it particularly dangerous for environments where users may be less security-aware. Security professionals should consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for anomalous memory mapping activities, and deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect unusual privilege escalation behaviors.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected TheGreenBow VPN client versions, as vendors typically release security updates to address such memory management vulnerabilities. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious memory mapping activities and privilege escalation attempts. Additional defensive measures include restricting user privileges when running VPN clients, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security assessments of VPN client implementations. Organizations should also consider deploying security solutions that monitor for memory manipulation attacks and privilege escalation attempts, particularly in environments where VPN clients are commonly used for remote access. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper memory management practices in security-critical applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of network client software.