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Vulnerability record · CVE-2018-11479 · published 25 May 2018

CVE-2018-11479: Windscribe improper input validation vulnerability

Windscribe · Windscribe

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.

7.8 CVSS 3.0 High EPSS 9.9% · top 4.6% CWE-20 · Improper input validation
7.8CVSS 3.0 base score, v2 7.2
9.9%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

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

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156222/Windscribe-WindscribeService-Named-Pipe-Privilege-Escalation.html
http://sqlulz.blogspot.com/2018/05/windscribe-vpn-privilege-escalation.html Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156222/Windscribe-WindscribeService-Named-Pipe-Privilege-Escalation.html
http://sqlulz.blogspot.com/2018/05/windscribe-vpn-privilege-escalation.html Third Party Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2018-11479), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.