CVE-2026-19624
NetworkManager-l2tp: local privilege escalation via ipsec.conf injection
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-l2tp. The plugin writes attacker-controlled VPN connection properties (vpn.data and vpn.secrets values) unescaped into a generated ipsec.conf file that pluto loads as root. A local unprivileged user can create and activate their own L2TP VPN profile containing a newline-injected leftupdown directive; pluto executes that command as root when the IKE security association is established, resulting in local privilege escalation. This is the same bug class as CVE-2018-10900 (NetworkManager-vpnc).
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.8
NetworkManager-l2tp: local privilege escalation via ipsec.conf injection
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-l2tp. The plugin writes attacker-controlled VPN connection properties (vpn.data and vpn.secrets values) unescaped into a generated ipsec.conf file that pluto loads as root. A local unprivileged user can create and activate their own L2TP VPN profile containing a newline-injected leftupdown directive; pluto executes that command as root when the IKE security association is established, resulting in local privilege escalation. This is the same bug class as CVE-2018-10900 (NetworkManager-vpnc).
- Record
CVE-2026-19624- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-88
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-77774
7.8
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-l2tp. The plugin writes attacker-controlled VPN connection properties (vpn.data and vpn.secrets values) unescaped into a generated ipsec.conf file that pluto loads as root. A local unprivileged user can create and activate their own L2TP VPN profile containing a newline-injected leftupdown directive; pluto executes that command as root when the IKE security association is established, resulting in local privilege escalation. This is the same bug class as CVE-2018-10900 (NetworkManager-vpnc).
- Record
EUVD-2026-77774- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4533-c5f5-j3h9
7.8
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-l2tp. The plugin writes attacker-controlled VPN connection...
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-l2tp. The plugin writes attacker-controlled VPN connection properties (vpn.data and vpn.secrets values) unescaped into a generated ipsec.conf file that pluto loads as root. A local unprivileged user can create and activate their own L2TP VPN profile containing a newline-injected leftupdown directive; pluto executes that command as root when the IKE security association is established, resulting in local privilege escalation. This is the same bug class as CVE-2018-10900 (NetworkManager-vpnc).
- Record
GHSA-4533-c5f5-j3h9- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-88
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.8
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-l2tp. The plugin writes attacker-controlled VPN connection properties (vpn.data and vpn.secrets values) unescaped into a generated ipsec.conf file that pluto loads as root. A local unprivileged user can create and activate their own L2TP VPN profile containing a newline-injected leftupdown directive; pluto executes that command as root when the IKE security association is established, resulting in local privilege escalation. This is the same bug class as CVE-2018-10900 (NetworkManager-vpnc).
- Record
CVE-2026-19624- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-88
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.8
NetworkManager-l2tp: local privilege escalation via ipsec.conf injection
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-l2tp. The plugin writes attacker-controlled VPN connection properties (vpn.data and vpn.secrets values) unescaped into a generated ipsec.conf file that pluto loads as root. A local unprivileged user can create and activate their own L2TP VPN profile containing a newline-injected leftupdown directive; pluto executes that command as root when the IKE security association is established, resulting in local privilege escalation. This is the same bug class as CVE-2018-10900 (NetworkManager-vpnc).
- Record
CVE-2026-19624- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-88
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-19624
7.8
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-l2tp. The plugin writes attacker-controlled VPN connection properties (vpn.data and vpn.secrets values) unescaped into a generated ipsec.conf file that pluto loads as root. A local unprivileged user can create and activate their own L2TP VPN profile containing a newline-injected leftupdown directive; pluto executes that command as root when the IKE security association is established, resulting in local privilege escalation. This is the same bug class as CVE-2018-10900 (NetworkManager-vpnc).
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-19624- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-19624
7.8
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-l2tp. The plugin writes attacker-controlled VPN connection properties (vpn.data and vpn.secrets values) unescaped into a generated ipsec.conf file that pluto loads as root. A local unprivileged user can create and activate their own L2TP VPN profile containing a newline-injected leftupdown directive; pluto executes that command as root when the IKE security association is established, resulting in local privilege escalation. This is the same bug class as CVE-2018-10900 (NetworkManager-vpnc).
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-19624- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
network-manager-l2tpDebian:12 |
before 1.20.8-1+deb12u1, plus listed versions 1.20.8-1 |
1.20.8-1+deb12u1 |
network-manager-l2tpDebian:13 |
before 1.20.20-2+deb13u1, plus listed versions 1.20.20-2 |
1.20.20-2+deb13u1 |
network-manager-l2tpDebian:14 |
before 1.52.6-1, plus listed versions 1.20.20-21.52.0-11.52.0-21.52.2-11.52.4-1 |
1.52.6-1 |
network-manager-l2tpUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.2.8-11.2.8-2build1 |
None known |
network-manager-l2tpUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.2.10-11.2.14-11.2.16-1 |
None known |
network-manager-l2tpUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.2.18-1build11.20.0-11.20.0-1build11.20.0-1build2 |
None known |
network-manager-l2tpUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.20.8-11.20.10-11.20.12-11.20.12-1build11.20.12-1build2 |
None known |
network-manager-l2tpUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.52.0-21.52.2-11.52.4-11.52.4-1build11.52.6-1 |
None known |
network-manager-l2tpUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.20.20-21.52.0-2 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-19624 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Fedora Extra Packages For Enterprise Linux (epel), published September 14, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.13%, the 2nd percentile. Fixed in network-manager-l2tp 1.20.8-1+deb12u1.
References
github.com/nm-l2tp/NetworkManager-l2tp/commit/95b6b46f48a0c9eabc79272cd313f219110ef91c
github.com/nm-l2tp/NetworkManager-l2tp/commit/3704d8c9d5e5f9ed1626a8ce7627a04247cea673
github.com/nm-l2tp/NetworkManager-l2tp/releases
bodhi.fedoraproject.org/updates?packages=NetworkManager-l2tp
linnemanlabs.com/posts/nm-l2tp-newline-to-root
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-19624