CVE-2018-9105: NordVPN 3.3.10 for macOS suffers from a root privilege escalation vulnerability

This month

HIGH 8.8DOWNGRADE

CVE-2018-9105 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting nordvpn. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

NordVPN 3.3.10 for macOS suffers from a root privilege escalation vulnerability. The vulnerability stems from its privileged helper tool's implemented XPC service. This XPC service is responsible for receiving and processing new OpenVPN connection requests from the main application. Unfortunately this XPC service is not protected, which allows arbitrary applications to connect and send it XPC messages. An attacker can send a crafted XPC message t

Why this priority

High severity

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.8 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.6% (top 15%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-287
Published	2018-03-27
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: nordvpn

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-03-27 23:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:06 UTCUpdated Record last modified

nordvpn nordvpn DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.3.10

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.3.10

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.3.10 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison nordvpn sudo apt install nordvpn=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.3.10> sudo apt-mark hold nordvpn

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

dnf --showduplicates list nordvpn sudo dnf downgrade nordvpn-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.3.10> sudo dnf versionlock add nordvpn

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-2018-9105?

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

Is CVE-2018-9105 being exploited?

CVE-2018-9105 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-2018-9105 affect?

CVE-2018-9105 affects nordvpn. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). NordVPN 3.3.10 for macOS suffers from a root privilege escalation vulnerability. The vulnerability stems from its privileged helper tool's implemented XPC service. This XPC service is responsible for receiving and processing new OpenVPN con

How urgent is CVE-2018-9105?

Priority 52/100. High severity

Software pages

macOS vulnerabilities · OpenVPN vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2018-3952 HIGH 8.8 DOWNGRADE An exploitable code execution vulnerability exists in the connect functionality of NordVPN 6.14.28.0
CVE-2018-10170 CRITICAL 9.8 DOWNGRADE NordVPN 6.12.7.0 for Windows suffers from a SYSTEM privilege escalation vulnerability through the "nordvpn-ser

References

← Back to latest CVEs