CVE-2008-4190

CVE-2008-4190 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Openswan with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.4. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-59.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 4.4)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (62nd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-59
• Affected product: Openswan
• Published: 2008-09-24
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The IPSEC livetest tool in Openswan 2.4.12 and earlier, and 2.6.x through 2.6.16, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files and execute arbitrary code via a symlink attack on the (1) ipseclive.conn and (2) ipsec.olts.remote.log temporary files. NOTE: in many distributions and the upstream version, this tool has been disabled.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-4190?

The IPSEC livetest tool in Openswan 2.4.12 and earlier, and 2.6.x through 2.6.16, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files and execute arbitrary code via a symlink attack on the (1) ipseclive.conn and (2) ipsec.olts.remote.log temporary files. NOTE: in many distributions and the upstream version, this tool has been disabled.

How severe is CVE-2008-4190?

CVE-2008-4190 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.4, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2008-4190 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (62nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-4190?

CVE-2008-4190 primarily affects Openswan. In total, 31 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-4190?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2008-4190 published?

CVE-2008-4190 was published on 2008-09-24 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=496374
• http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/openswan
• http://secunia.com/advisories/34182
• http://secunia.com/advisories/34472
• http://www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1760
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-0402.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501624/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501640/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31243
• https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=460425
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/45250
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10078
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/9135

Affected products (31)

• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:1.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:1.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:1.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:1.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:1.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:1.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:2.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:2.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:2.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:2.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:2.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:openswan:openswan:2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.03:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.05:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.07:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.08:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.09:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:xelerance:openswan:2.6.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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