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CVE Record

CVE-2019-12576: A vulnerability in the London Trust Media Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN Client v82 for macOS could allo...

A vulnerability in the London Trust Media Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN Client v82 for macOS could allow an authenticated, local attacker to run arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The openvpn_launcher binary is setuid root. This program is called during the connection process and executes several operating system utilities to configure the system. The networksetup utility is called using relative paths. A local unprivileged user can execute arbitrary commands as root by creating a networksetup trojan which will be executed during the connection process. This is possible because the PATH environment variable is not reset prior to executing the OS utility.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

PIA VPN Client v82 for macOS can let a local authenticated user gain root-level code execution during VPN connection setup. The issue is serious for managed Macs because VPN software often runs with elevated privileges, but the sources do not show remote exploitation or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority endpoint hygiene issue if PIA v82 exists in the fleet. It is not a remote internet-facing bug, but it can turn a low-privilege local foothold into full Mac control.

Technical view

The macOS PIA VPN Client v82 uses a setuid-root openvpn_launcher binary. During connection setup it calls operating-system utilities using relative paths without resetting PATH, allowing a local unprivileged user to influence which utility is executed with root privileges.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to macOS systems running London Trust Media Private Internet Access VPN Client v82. The CVE metadata affected-product block is incomplete, so teams should confirm installed versions directly rather than relying on CPE data.

Exploitation context

The source describes local privilege escalation only. The attacker needs local authenticated access and a VPN connection workflow that invokes the vulnerable launcher. The bundle says this CVE is not in KEV, and no cited source confirms active exploitation.

Researcher notes

The public description is specific about root setuid behavior and PATH handling, but the CVE record lacks CVSS, CWE, and structured affected CPEs. No patch version is named in the provided sources, so remediation should be tied to vendor confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify and remove or upgrade PIA VPN Client v82 on macOS endpoints.
  • Check Private Internet Access or vendor guidance for the corrected client version.
  • Prioritize managed Macs with shared users, developers, or higher local compromise risk.
  • Restrict legacy client use until vendor-supported remediation is confirmed.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory macOS endpoints for PIA VPN Client v82 installations.
  • Confirm whether openvpn_launcher is present and setuid root.
  • Review endpoint telemetry for unexpected privileged child processes from the VPN client.
  • Confirm upgraded clients no longer use unsafe relative path execution.
  • Check KEV and vendor sources for any later exploitation or patch guidance.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2019-12576 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.