OpenVPN up to 2.0.5 setenv memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in OpenVPN up to 2.0.5. Impacted is an unknown function. Executing a manipulation of the argument setenv can lead to memory corruption. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2006-1629. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in OpenVPN up to 2.0.5 (Network Encryption Software) and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown function. The manipulation of the argument setenv with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

OpenVPN 2.0 through 2.0.5 allows remote malicious servers to execute arbitrary code on the client by using setenv with the LD_PRELOAD environment variable.

The bug was discovered 04/05/2006. The weakness was presented 04/06/2006 by Hendrik Weimer (Website). The advisory is shared for download at osreviews.net. This vulnerability was named CVE-2006-1629 since 04/05/2006. The attack can be initiated remotely. The successful exploitation requires a single authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 1 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 21505 (FreeBSD : openvpn -- LD_PRELOAD code execution on client through malicious or compromised server (be4ccb7b-c48b-11da-ae12-0002b3b60e4c)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family FreeBSD Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 38542 (OpenVPN Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at openvpn.net. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version. A possible mitigation has been published 3 weeks after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (25667), Tenable (21505), SecurityFocus (BID 17392†), OSVDB (24444†) and Secunia (SA19837†). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.9

VulDB Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Temp Score: 8.9
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 21505
Nessus Name: FreeBSD : openvpn -- LD_PRELOAD code execution on client through malicious or compromised server (be4ccb7b-c48b-11da-ae12-0002b3b60e4c)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 56666
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 1045-1 (openvpn)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Patch: openvpn.net

Timelineinfo

04/05/2006 🔍
04/05/2006 +0 days 🔍
04/06/2006 +1 days 🔍
04/06/2006 +0 days 🔍
04/06/2006 +0 days 🔍
04/06/2006 +0 days 🔍
04/06/2006 +0 days 🔍
04/10/2006 +3 days 🔍
04/16/2006 +6 days 🔍
04/27/2006 +11 days 🔍
04/27/2006 +0 days 🔍
05/13/2006 +16 days 🔍
06/22/2025 +6980 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: osreviews.net
Researcher: Hendrik Weimer
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2006-1629 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2006-1629
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-2128
X-Force: 25667 - OpenVPN setenv LD_PRELOAD code execution, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 17392 - OpenVPN Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Secunia: 19837 - Debian update for openvpn, Less Critical
OSVDB: 24444 - OpenVPN LD_PRELOAD Environment Variable Pushing Arbitrary Code Execution
Vulnerability Center: 11118 - OpenVpn Remote Code Execution via LD_PRELOAD Environment Variable, High
Vupen: ADV-2006-1261

Entryinfo

Created: 04/10/2006 11:28
Updated: 06/22/2025 05:13
Changes: 04/10/2006 11:28 (95), 06/16/2019 14:48 (2), 06/22/2025 05:13 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:E6A:103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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