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CVE Record

CVE-2024-9050: Networkmanager-libreswan: local privilege escalation via leftupdown

A flaw was found in the libreswan client plugin for NetworkManager (NetkworkManager-libreswan), where it fails to properly sanitize the VPN configuration from the local unprivileged user. In this configuration, composed by a key-value format, the plugin fails to escape special characters, leading the application to interpret values as keys. One of the most critical parameters that could be abused by a malicious user is the `leftupdown`key. This key takes an executable command as a value and is used to specify what executes as a callback in NetworkManager-libreswan to retrieve configuration settings back to NetworkManager. As NetworkManager uses Polkit to allow an unprivileged user to control the system's network configuration, a malicious actor could achieve local privilege escalation and potential code execution as root in the targeted machine by creating a malicious configuration.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-9050 lets a local, low-privileged user on affected Red Hat systems potentially gain root privileges through NetworkManager-libreswan VPN configuration handling. This is not a remote internet-facing bug by itself, but it can turn ordinary local access into full system compromise.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority Linux endpoint and server hardening issue. It is most urgent where many users share systems or where compromised user accounts are plausible. Patch through normal emergency or accelerated Linux update processes.

Technical view

NetworkManager-libreswan fails to sanitize key-value VPN configuration supplied by an unprivileged local user. Special characters can cause values to be interpreted as keys, including the leftupdown parameter, which can define a callback executable. Red Hat rates it High with CVSS 7.8, requiring local access and low privileges.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems with NetworkManager-libreswan installed, especially listed RHEL 7 ELS/AUS, RHEL 8 variants, RHEL 9 variants, and RHEL 10. Systems without the package or without local untrusted users are less exposed.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and abuse of NetworkManager’s Polkit-enabled ability for users to control network configuration.

Researcher notes

The key issue is configuration injection in NetworkManager-libreswan parsing, enabling leftupdown manipulation and possible root execution. Public sources include Red Hat advisories, the Red Hat CVE page, Bugzilla, upstream commit, and oss-security discussion. Evidence is sufficient for affected Red Hat packages, but exploitation-in-the-wild is not shown.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the relevant Red Hat security advisory update for your RHEL release.
  • Prioritize multi-user workstations, VPN endpoints, jump hosts, and shared Linux servers.
  • If updates are unavailable, check Red Hat guidance for supported compensating controls.
  • Review whether untrusted local users can configure NetworkManager VPN connections.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems for the NetworkManager-libreswan package.
  • Map installed package versions to the affected Red Hat product list.
  • Confirm the applicable RHSA advisory has been applied.
  • Verify local user and Polkit permissions for NetworkManager VPN configuration.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
9

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

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-94: Code execution behavior lookup

Code execution and unsafe deserialization weaknesses often justify reviewing execution behavior and process telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
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
description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. 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-2024-9050 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

1CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
2ADP providers
16Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9redhat

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-9050Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. Source timelineredhat

    Reported to Red Hat.

  2. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  3. Source timelineredhat

    Made public.

  4. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Unknown vendorNetworkManager-libreswanNetworkManager-libreswan, 0unaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7.7 Advanced Update SupportNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.4-4.el7_7affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle SupportNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.4-4.el7_9affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8NetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.10-7.el8_10affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Advanced Update SupportNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.10-6.el8_2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update SupportNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.10-6.el8_4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Telecommunications Update ServiceNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.10-6.el8_4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Update Services for SAP SolutionsNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.10-6.el8_4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update SupportNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.10-6.el8_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Telecommunications Update ServiceNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.10-6.el8_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Update Services for SAP SolutionsNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.10-6.el8_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Extended Update SupportNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.10-6.el8_8affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9NetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.22-4.el9_5affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Update Services for SAP SolutionsNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.14-3.el9_0affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update SupportNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.14-6.el9_2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Extended Update SupportNetworkManager-libreswan, 0:1.2.18-6.el9_4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10NetworkManager-libreswanaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-94

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

CWE-94 · source CWE mapping

Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs