OpenVPN 2 (Community): Use After Free
CVE-2023-46850 is a critical-severity use after free vulnerability in OpenVPN 2 (Community) from OpenVPN, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected OpenVPN 2 (Community) versions: 2.6.0 through 2.6.6. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.31% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 84% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update Openvpn Access Server to 2.12.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on community.openvpn.net for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN | OpenVPN 2 (Community) | 2.6.0 through 2.6.6 | Not stated |
| OpenVPN | Access Server | 2.11.0 through 2.11.3; 2.12.0 through 2.12.2 | Not stated |
| Openvpn | Openvpn | 2.6.0 through 2.6.6 | Not stated |
| Openvpn | Openvpn Access Server | 2.11.0 through 2.11.3; 2.12.0 up to, but not including, 2.12.2 | 2.12.2 |
| Debian | Debian Linux | 12.0 | Not stated |
| Fedora Project | Fedora | 39 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
Official description
Use after free in OpenVPN version 2.6.0 to 2.6.6 may lead to undefined behavoir, leaking memory buffers or remote execution when sending network buffers to a remote peer.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use After Free
The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
- When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Third-party and government advisories
- debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5555Third Party Advisory
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in OpenVPN 2 (Community)
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.0 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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