Description
Format string vulnerability in the foreign_option function in options.c for OpenVPN 2.0.x allows remote clients to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in a push of the dhcp-option command option.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | openvpn | 2.0.5-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | openvpn | 2.0.5-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | openvpn | 2.0.5-1 | — |
| Debian 3.1 | openvpn | 2.0-1sarge2 | DSA-885-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | openvpn | 2.5.3-1.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11128-1 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-885-1 openvpn - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11128-1 openvpn-2.5.3-1.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 17447 third-party-advisory
- 17480 third-party-advisory
- http://openvpn.net/changelog.html
- SUSE-SR:2005:025 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200511-07 vendor-advisory
- 15239 vdb-entry
- OpenPKG-SA-2005.023 vendor-advisory
- 17452 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2005-2255 vdb-entry
- 20051031 OpenVPN[v2.0.x]: foreign_option() formart string vulnerability. mailing-list
- DSA-885 vendor-advisory
- 17376 third-party-advisory