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luci-app-openvpn EUVDEUVD-2026-58549

| CVE-2026-72841 CRITICAL
External Control of File Name or Path (CWE-73)
2026-08-13 disclosure@vulncheck.com GHSA-x5wv-6f33-ph3p
9.4
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: vulncheck
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Authenticate to LuCI web UI
  2. Delivery
    Submit file upload with malicious instance_name2
  3. Exploit
    Traverse path outside OpenVPN config dir
  4. Execution
    Write SSH key to system directory as root
  5. Persist
    Reboot or trigger boot-time read
  6. Impact
    Gain persistent root SSH access

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling File name/path control
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires an authenticated LuCI session (PR:L) on a device with the luci-app-openvpn plugin installed and its web-based OpenVPN configuration upload feature reachable. The concrete prerequisite is the ability to submit the file-upload request and control the instance_name2 parameter so it carries a path-traversal payload; no user interaction (UI:N) or special attack requirement (AT:N) is needed beyond that. Limiting factors: the attacker must already hold valid web-UI credentials, the luci-app-openvpn package must be present (it is an optional add-on, not part of a minimal OpenWrt image), and the LuCI interface must be network-reachable - devices with the admin UI bound to LAN-only and strong credentials substantially raise the bar.

Impact

The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N) with high vulnerable- and subsequent-system impact (VC/VI/VA:H, SC/SI/SA:H) reflects a genuinely severe, low-complexity, network-reachable flaw whose only gate is a single authenticated session - consistent with the description's 'authenticated users' and root outcome. This is not a paper-tiger high score: the impact is full device takeover with persistence. The mitigating factor is PR:L - the attacker must already hold valid LuCI credentials (or reach an authenticated session via default/weak passwords, CSRF, or a chained auth bypass), so this is not a pure unauthenticated internet worm. No EPSS score, KEV listing, or POC was provided, so real-world exploitation frequency is unconfirmed; the risk is driven by impact severity and ease of exploitation once authenticated rather than by observed active attacks. Priority should scale with exposure: routers with the LuCI interface reachable from untrusted networks warrant urgent remediation.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has obtained (or guessed) valid LuCI credentials for an internet- or LAN-exposed OpenWrt router logs in, opens the OpenVPN configuration upload, and submits a file with an instance_name2 value containing '../' traversal sequences pointing at a system directory. The uploaded content is written as root into, for example, the Dropbear authorized_keys file, and on the next reboot (or immediately) the attacker's SSH key grants persistent root shell access. No public exploit code has been identified, but the low attack complexity makes weaponization straightforward for anyone with an authenticated session.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
No patch listed yet 0.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 13, 2026

Arbitrary file write in OpenWrt's luci-app-openvpn (the LuCI web-interface plugin for managing OpenVPN) lets an authenticated web user smuggle a path-traversal sequence through the instance_name2 upload parameter to write files anywhere on the device filesystem. Because OpenWrt processes run as root, an attacker can drop an SSH key into a system directory and obtain persistent root code execution across reboots. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, but the CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.4 and root-level impact make this a high-priority patch for exposed OpenWrt routers.

RemediationAI

Upgrade luci-app-openvpn to the fixed release referenced in the OpenWrt GHSA advisory (https://github.com/openwrt/luci/security/advisories/GHSA-jjcx-c284-2qv8) - the exact patched version is not stated in the provided data and must be taken from that advisory (Upstream fix available via the LuCI security advisory; a specific released package version is not independently confirmed here). Until patched, remove or disable the luci-app-openvpn package if OpenVPN is managed by other means, and restrict access to the LuCI web interface so it is not reachable from WAN or untrusted VLANs (bind the admin interface to the LAN only and require strong, unique admin credentials) - the trade-off is loss of remote/browser-based OpenVPN management. Additionally, review /etc/dropbear/authorized_keys and startup scripts for unexpected entries and rotate device credentials if compromise is suspected. See also the VulnCheck advisory at https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/luci-app-openvpn-path-traversal-rce-via-instance-name2.

Affected ProductsAI

The affected component is luci-app-openvpn, the OpenVPN management plugin for the OpenWrt LuCI web interface. Exact fixed and vulnerable version ranges are not enumerated in the provided data and should be confirmed against the OpenWrt advisory at https://github.com/openwrt/luci/security/advisories/GHSA-jjcx-c284-2qv8 and the VulnCheck advisory at https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/luci-app-openvpn-path-traversal-rce-via-instance-name2; no CPE string was supplied. Deployments running OpenWrt/LEDE firmware with the luci-app-openvpn package installed and the web UI enabled are in scope.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

luci-app-openvpn is an optional LuCI application shipped for OpenWrt/LEDE embedded router firmware; LuCI is the Lua-based web administration framework and its backend CGI/ubus handlers run with root privileges. The flaw is CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path): the upload handler accepts an instance_name2 value that is used to build the destination path for uploaded OpenVPN configuration/certificate material without canonicalizing or rejecting traversal sequences (e.g. '../'). This allows the caller to escape the intended OpenVPN config directory and place attacker-controlled content in arbitrary locations such as /etc/dropbear/authorized_keys or init/rc paths that are read at boot.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (vulncheck) PRIMARY 9.4 CRITICAL
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H
vuln.today AI 9.9 CRITICAL

Network-reachable upload needs only a low-privileged authenticated session (PR:L, AC:L); root file write escapes the web app to compromise the whole OS, so S:C with C/I/A:H.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H

Primary rating from Vendor (vulncheck).

CVSS VectorVendor: vulncheck

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
High
Subsequent system: Integrity
High
Subsequent system: Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

luci-app-openvpn fails to properly validate the instance_name2 parameter during file upload, allowing authenticated users to perform path traversal and write arbitrary files outside the intended directory. Attackers can upload malicious payloads to gain persistent root code execution by placing SSH keys in system directories accessible on reboot.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

OpenWrt router web management interfaces contain a critical vulnerability allowing privileged users to persistently compromise device security by installing SSH backdoors-risking complete loss of network perimeter protection and enabling ongoing unauthorized access across firmware updates for organizations using affected routers.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Restrict web interface access to internal networks only via firewall (block ports 80/443 externally); disable or uninstall luci-app-openvpn module if OpenVPN web management is not operationally critical; implement network segmentation to contain lateral movement; enable system audit logging and monitor for unauthorized SSH key installations in /root/.ssh/; require VPN tunneling for any administrative web access.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 65% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
OpenWrt is widely deployed, but luci-app-openvpn is an optional add-on package
Social Media
1
Sightings
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.4%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
Very High

Priority Score

47
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +47
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

Malicious file upload attacks exploit insufficient validation when web applications accept user-provided files.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

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