CVE-2019-12573 : Security Advisory and Response

London Trust Media Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN Client v82 for Linux and macOS has a vulnerability that could be exploited by an authenticated, local attacker to overwrite files.

Understanding CVE-2019-12573

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the PIA VPN Client v82 for Linux and macOS that allows a local attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the system.

What is CVE-2019-12573?

The openvpn_launcher binary, which is setuid root, has an option called --log that takes a file path as an argument. This argument is not properly sanitized, enabling a local user without privileges to overwrite files owned by any user on the system, including root.

The Impact of CVE-2019-12573

Exploitation by a malicious local user can lead to a denial of service and potential loss of data.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-12573

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an authenticated, local attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

London Trust Media Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN Client v82 for Linux and macOS

Exploitation Mechanism

The openvpn_launcher binary's --log option is not properly sanitized, allowing unauthorized file overwriting.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your system from the CVE-2019-12573 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Avoid running the VPN client with elevated privileges.
Monitor file changes and permissions on critical system files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the VPN client to the latest version.
Implement the principle of least privilege to limit potential damage.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability.