CVE-2018-10647: SaferVPN 4.2.5 for Windows suffers from a SYSTEM privilege escalation vulnerability in its "SaferVPN.Service"

Routine

HIGH 7.8DOWNGRADE

CVE-2018-10647 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting safervpn. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

SaferVPN 4.2.5 for Windows suffers from a SYSTEM privilege escalation vulnerability in its "SaferVPN.Service" service. The "SaferVPN.Service" service executes "openvpn.exe" using OpenVPN config files located within the current user's %LOCALAPPDATA%\SaferVPN\OvpnConfig directory. An authenticated attacker may modify these configuration files to specify a dynamic library plugin that should run for every new VPN connection attempt. This plugin will

Why this priority

High severity

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 73%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-732
Published	2018-05-02
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: safervpn

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-05-02 07:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:34 UTCUpdated Record last modified

safervpn safervpn DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.2.5

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.2.5

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy safervpn || rpm -q safervpn || safervpn --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.2.5 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison safervpn sudo apt install safervpn=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.2.5> sudo apt-mark hold safervpn

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list safervpn sudo dnf downgrade safervpn-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.2.5> sudo dnf versionlock add safervpn

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2018-10647?

safervpn: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-10647 being exploited?

CVE-2018-10647 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2018-10647 affect?

CVE-2018-10647 affects safervpn. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). SaferVPN 4.2.5 for Windows suffers from a SYSTEM privilege escalation vulnerability in its "SaferVPN.Service" service. The "SaferVPN.Service" service executes "openvpn.exe" using OpenVPN config files located within the current user's %LOCAL

How urgent is CVE-2018-10647?

Priority 34/100. High severity

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · OpenVPN vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2020-26050 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE SaferVPN for Windows Ver 5.0.3.3 through 5.0.4.15 could allow local privilege escalation from low privileged u
CVE-2020-25744 HIGH 8.1 UPGRADE SaferVPN before 5.0.3.3 on Windows could allow low-privileged users to create or overwrite arbitrary files, wh

References

← Back to latest CVEs