CVE-2022-41742 is a high-severity vulnerability in F5 NGINX products, including NGINX Open Source and NGINX Plus. This vulnerability allows local attackers to crash worker processes or potentially disclose memory by processing specially crafted audio or video files. The affected versions include NGINX Open Source before 1.23.2 and 1.22.1, and NGINX Plus before R27 P1 and R26 P1. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate this risk.
The vulnerability specifically affects NGINX products built with the ngx_http_mp4_module, which must be enabled in the configuration file. An attacker would need access to trigger the processing of these malicious media files, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for environments where NGINX is utilized without proper input validation.
The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.1, indicating high severity, with a potential impact on confidentiality and availability. Given the exploitability of this vulnerability and its implications for sensitive data handling, organizations must remain vigilant and ensure timely updates to their systems.
As of now, the vulnerability is known to have a public proof-of-concept available, which could facilitate its exploitation. Therefore, it is crucial for organizations to stay informed about this issue and implement the necessary patches.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2022-41742 states that the vulnerability exists in the ngx_http_mp4_module of NGINX Open Source and NGINX Plus. Specifically, this issue arises when the mp4 directive is utilized in the configuration file. The potential consequences include worker process crashes and memory disclosures, which could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The CVSS score of 7.1 categorizes this vulnerability as high severity, reflecting the significant impact it may have on affected systems. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-787, indicating improper access control.
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability occurs due to improper handling of audio or video files by the ngx_http_mp4_module in NGINX. The attack vector is local, requiring low complexity and low privileges from the attacker, with no user interaction necessary. The attack can lead to high confidentiality impact and high availability impact, as worker processes may crash, resulting in service downtime.
The required privileges are low, meaning that an attacker with minimal access could exploit this weakness. Given that user interaction is not necessary, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations using affected NGINX products.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential service interruptions and unauthorized access to sensitive data. The blast radius could be extensive, especially in environments where NGINX is heavily relied upon for media processing. Given the high CVSS score and the existence of a public proof-of-concept, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
The urgent need for remediation is underscored by the vulnerability’s high exploitability and the possibility of significant data loss or service disruption. Organizations must ensure they are running patched versions of the affected NGINX products.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects NGINX Open Source versions prior to 1.23.2 and 1.22.1, NGINX Open Source Subscription before R2 P1 and R1 P1, and NGINX Plus before R27 P1 and R26 P1. All versions prior to vendor patch are vulnerable.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply available patches for affected NGINX products as soon as possible. The following versions should be upgraded to mitigate this vulnerability:
• NGINX Open Source: Upgrade to 1.23.2 or 1.22.1 • NGINX Plus: Upgrade to R27 P1 or R26 P1
If patching is not immediately possible, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit the ability of unauthorized users to upload or process media files.
penetration testing to validate the effectiveness of these patches.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring logs for anomalies related to media file processing can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should focus on the following indicators:
• Unusual worker process crashes • Memory access violations in logs • Increased media file processing requests from unauthorized users
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2022-41742 is its representation of vulnerabilities in widely used web server software. Security teams must be aware of the patterns that lead to similar vulnerabilities, especially in configurations that handle media files. This incident highlights the importance of rigorous security assessments and regular updates.
Organizations are encouraged to adopt a proactive approach to vulnerability management, including regular security testing practices. For further reading on vulnerability management programs, consider the following resources:
vulnerability management program design and penetration testing methodology can provide additional insights into effective security practices.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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