CVE-2020-15590 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in the Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN Client for Linux 1.5 through 2.3+ allows remote attackers to bypass an intended VPN kill switch mechanism and read sensitive information via intercepting network traffic.

Understanding CVE-2020-15590

This CVE describes a security flaw in the Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN Client for Linux versions 1.5 through 2.3+ that enables attackers to circumvent the VPN kill switch feature.

What is CVE-2020-15590?

The vulnerability in the PIA VPN Client for Linux versions 1.5 through 2.3+ allows remote attackers to bypass the VPN kill switch mechanism, potentially leading to the exposure of sensitive information by intercepting network traffic.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15590

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability to read sensitive data by bypassing the intended VPN kill switch mechanism.
The flaw may result in the leakage of the host IP address, compromising user privacy and security.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15590

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the PIA VPN Client for Linux versions 1.5 through 2.3+ allows attackers to bypass the VPN kill switch mechanism, potentially exposing sensitive information through intercepted network traffic.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN Client
Versions: 1.5 through 2.3+
Status: Affected

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by intercepting network traffic, bypassing the VPN kill switch feature, and reading sensitive information.
Privileged applications can continue sending and receiving network traffic if specific system kernel parameters are enabled, potentially leading to data leakage.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-15590 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the PIA VPN Client to version 2.4.0 or higher to benefit from policy-based routing enabled by default.
Disable net.ipv4.ip_forward in the system kernel parameters to prevent privileged applications from bypassing the VPN kill switch.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update VPN client software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to isolate critical systems from potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Private Internet Access to address the vulnerability and enhance the security of the VPN client.