CVE-2022-41741 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting NGINX Open Source and NGINX Plus products. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to corrupt NGINX worker memory, potentially leading to termination or other impacts when processing specially crafted audio or video files. The issue is present in NGINX Open Source versions prior to 1.23.2 and 1.22.1, NGINX Open Source Subscription versions before R2 P1 and R1 P1, and NGINX Plus versions before R27 P1 and R26 P1.
The vulnerability specifically affects NGINX products built with the ngx_http_mp4_module when the mp4 directive is used in the configuration file. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to exploit NGINX worker memory, requiring low privileges and no user interaction. The risk to organizations includes potential service disruptions and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
With a CVSS score of 7.8, the severity of this vulnerability is classified as high, indicating that organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The attack vector is local, with a high attack complexity, and organizations running affected versions should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
The vulnerability was published on October 19, 2022, and has been classified under CWE-787. Exploitability is rated high, and while no public exploit has been confirmed, there are proofs of concept available on GitHub. Organizations should validate their configurations and ensure they are using patched versions of NGINX.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability description indicates that the ngx_http_mp4_module in NGINX Open Source versions prior to 1.23.2 and 1.22.1, and NGINX Plus versions prior to R27 P1 and R26 P1, is susceptible to local memory corruption. This may result in denial of service or other impacts when processing malicious audio or video files.
The CVSS score of 7.8 signifies high severity, with impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability affects products such as NGINX, NGINX Plus, and NGINX Ingress Controller, and it is relevant for users on Debian and Fedora systems as well.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of specially crafted media files by the ngx_http_mp4_module. The attack vector is local, which requires the attacker to have access to the NGINX server. The attack complexity is high, meaning that specific conditions must be met for exploitation to occur. Privileges required are low, allowing local users to potentially trigger the vulnerability without elevated permissions.
User interaction is not required for this vulnerability, and it can significantly impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems. Organizations must prioritize the evaluation of their NGINX deployments to identify and rectify any configurations that expose them to this risk.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential service disruptions, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and impact on organizational reputation. The blast radius for this vulnerability is significant, as it affects various versions across multiple NGINX products. Organizations using affected versions should prioritize remediation and patching efforts immediately to mitigate risks.
Given the CVSS score and the nature of the vulnerability, organizations should assess their exposure and take action based on their risk management protocols. This vulnerability should be addressed in the immediate patch cycle to prevent possible exploitation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions include NGINX Open Source versions prior to 1.23.2 and 1.22.1, NGINX Plus versions prior to R27 P1 and R26 P1, and various versions of NGINX Ingress Controller, Debian, and Fedora systems. Organizations should ensure they upgrade to the latest patched versions.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching NGINX to the latest versions to mitigate this vulnerability. If immediate patching is not possible, consider disabling the ngx_http_mp4_module or implementing strict file validation controls to prevent malicious files from being processed.
For comprehensive security, organizations should also consider engaging in penetration testing to discover additional vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring logs for memory corruption events and unusual NGINX behavior can provide indicators of potential exploitation. It is essential to implement behavioral anomaly detection to identify potential attacks leveraging this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2022-41741 highlights the importance of securing media file processing in web servers. As organizations adopt more complex web applications, vulnerabilities like these can surface from improper handling of input files. Security teams must remain vigilant and adopt practices that encompass thorough code reviews and regular security assessments.
To learn more about effective security strategies, organizations can refer to our penetration testing methodology and other resources to enhance their security posture.
Additionally, understanding the implications of vulnerabilities like CVE-2022-41741 can lead to better practices in application security and incident response planning.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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