# CVE-2018-3952: Command injection in NordVPN

> A specially crafted configuration file allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands with system privileges via the connect functionality.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 Sep 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5f3h-x9wv-4c7q

## What is CVE-2018-3952?

CVE-2018-3952 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Talos NordVPN, published on 7 Sep 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An exploitable code execution vulnerability exists in the connect functionality of NordVPN 6.14.28.0. A specially crafted configuration file can cause a privilege escalation, resulting in the execution of arbitrary commands with system privileges.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-3952?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Nordvpn Nordvpn.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-3952?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-3952 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-3952 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-3952 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Talos NordVPN

- [CVE-2018-10170](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-10170/): Privilege escalation in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-9105](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-9105/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-25572](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-25572/): NordVPN 6.19.6 Denial of Service via Email Field Buffer Overflow (medium 6.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-3952 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-3952 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Talos NordVPN, published on 7 Sep 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-3952 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Talos NordVPN. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-3952/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-3952/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-3952
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-3952
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-3952

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-3952/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.