# CVE-2026-81830 - Windows openvpnserv config path validation bypass via sibling directories

OpenVPN 2.x on Windows allows local users to start openvpn.exe with a config file outside the administratively allowed config directories, because `CheckConfigPath()` in `openvpnserv` did not detect and refuse sibling directories of an allowed path.

OpenVPN version 2.4.0 through 2.6.22 are affected. This is fixed in version 2.6.23 <2.7.x FIXED VERSION TBD>.

CVE Record: [CVE-2026-81830](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-81830)

Github:
* [OpenVPN/openvpn-private-issues#166](https://github.com/OpenVPN/openvpn-private-issues/issues/166)

Release notes:
* [openvpn-2.6.23](https://community.openvpn.net/ReleaseHistory#openvpn-2623-released-23-september-2026)

Reported-By: Harshit Varu