OpenVPN 2.3.8 PrivateTunnel unquoted search path

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in OpenVPN 2.3.8. Affected is an unknown function of the component PrivateTunnel Handler. Performing a manipulation results in unquoted search path. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2014-5455. The attack must be initiated from a local position. Furthermore, there is an exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in OpenVPN 2.3.8 (Network Encryption Software). It has been classified as critical. This affects some unknown functionality of the component PrivateTunnel Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a unquoted search path vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-428. The product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. This can cause the product to access resources in a parent path. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Unquoted Windows search path vulnerability in the ptservice service prior to PrivateTunnel version 3.0 (Windows) and OpenVPN Connect version 3.1 (Windows) allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted program.exe file in the %SYSTEMDRIVE% folder.

The bug was discovered 07/07/2014. The weakness was shared 07/11/2014 by Gjoko Krstic with Zero Science Lab as ZSL-2014-5192 as not defined advisory (Website). The advisory is shared at zeroscience.mk. The public release happened without involvement of the project team. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2014-5455 since 08/25/2014. The exploitability is told to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1574.009 for this issue. The advisory points out:

Private Tunnel application suffers from an unquoted search path issue impacting the Core Service 'ptservice' service for Windows deployed as part of PrivateTunnel bundle. This could potentially allow an authorized but non-privileged local user to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges on the system. A successful attempt would require the local user to be able to insert their code in the system root path undetected by the OS or other security applications where it could potentially be executed during application startup or reboot. If successful, the local user’s code would execute with the elevated privileges of the application.

A public exploit has been developed by Gjoko Krstic and been published immediately after the advisory. The exploit is shared for download at zeroscience.mk. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 63155 (Microsoft Windows Unquoted Service Path Enumeration), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 122578 (OpenVPN PrivateTunnel 'ptservice' Service Local Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (94482), Exploit-DB (34037), Tenable (63155), SecurityFocus (BID 68520†) and OSVDB (109007†). Further details are available at packetstormsecurity.com. The entries VDB-8077, VDB-66473 and VDB-70731 are related to this item. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

ADP CISA Base Score: 5.3
ADP CISA Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Unquoted search path
CWE: CWE-428 / CWE-426
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Author: Gjoko Krstic
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 63155
Nessus Name: Microsoft Windows Unquoted Service Path Enumeration
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 880988
OpenVAS Name: ereg_replace( string:path_name, pattern:\s+(/|\-|\-\-).*, replace:
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Patch: github.com

Timelineinfo

12/05/2012 🔍
07/07/2014 +579 days 🔍
07/08/2014 +1 days 🔍
07/11/2014 +3 days 🔍
07/11/2014 +0 days 🔍
07/11/2014 +0 days 🔍
07/12/2014 +1 days 🔍
07/20/2014 +8 days 🔍
08/25/2014 +36 days 🔍
08/25/2014 +0 days 🔍
05/28/2026 +4294 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: ZSL-2014-5192
Researcher: Gjoko Krstic
Organization: Zero Science Lab
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2014-5455 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2014-5455
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-67209
X-Force: 94482 - OpenVPN PrivateTunnel ptservice privilege escalation, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 68520 - OpenVPN PrivateTunnel 'ptservice' Service Local Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability
OSVDB: 109007

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
Misc.: 🔍
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 07/21/2014 00:10
Updated: 05/28/2026 20:39
Changes: 07/21/2014 00:10 (71), 04/12/2019 11:53 (13), 02/09/2022 16:31 (2), 12/15/2024 04:25 (22), 05/28/2026 20:39 (14)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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