OpenVPN Connect: Improper Removal of Sensitive Information Before Storage or Transfer
CVE-2024-8474 is a high-severity improper removal of sensitive information before storage or transfer vulnerability in OpenVPN Connect from OpenVPN, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected OpenVPN Connect versions: 3.5.0 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.53% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Connect to 3.5.0 or a later version.
- 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 Connect | 3.5.0 and earlier | Not stated |
| Openvpn | Connect | before 3.5.0 | 3.5.0 |
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
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
OpenVPN Connect before version 3.5.0 can contain the configuration profile's clear-text private key which is logged in the application log, which an unauthorized actor can use to decrypt the VPN traffic
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Removal of Sensitive Information Before Storage or Transfer
The product stores, transfers, or shares a resource that contains sensitive information, but it does not properly remove that information before the product makes the resource available to unauthorized actors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Clearly specify which information should be regarded as private or sensitive, and require that the product offers functionality that allows the user to cleanse the sensitive information from the resource before it is published or exported to other parties.
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
- Use naming conventions and strong types to make it easier to spot when sensitive data is being used. When creating structures, objects, or other complex entities, separate the sensitive and non-sensitive data as much as possible.
More Improper Removal of Sensitive Information Before Storage or Transfer vulnerabilities (CWE-212)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- openvpn.net/connect-docs/android-release-notes.htmlRelease Notes
Other vulnerabilities in OpenVPN Connect
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Improper Removal of Sensitive Information Before Storage or Transfer vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.