CVE-2018-11479
Also, it creates a WindScribeService.exe system process that establishes a \\.\pipe\WindscribeService named pipe endpoint that allows the Windscribe VPN process to connect and execute an OpenVPN process or other processes (like taskkill, etc.).
Does this matter?
A public exploit is published in Exploit-DB (verified) and the impact is high, while EPSS rates exploitation at 9.8%. Anyone can run this; patch or mitigate before the next change window and check exposed instances for signs of use.
Description
The VPN component in Windscribe 1.81 uses the OpenVPN client for connections. Also, it creates a WindScribeService.exe system process that establishes a \\.\pipe\WindscribeService named pipe endpoint that allows the Windscribe VPN process to connect and execute an OpenVPN process or other processes (like taskkill, etc.). There is no validation of the program name before constructing the lpCommandLine argument for a CreateProcess call. An attacker can run any malicious process with SYSTEM privileges through this named pipe.
- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 9.76% probability · 96th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 7 February 2020
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-20
- Affected
- windscribe/windscribe
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 9.8% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156222/Windscribe-WindscribeService-Named-Pipe-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://sqlulz.blogspot.com/2018/05/windscribe-vpn-privilege-escalation.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156222/Windscribe-WindscribeService-Named-Pipe-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://sqlulz.blogspot.com/2018/05/windscribe-vpn-privilege-escalation.htmlThird Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.