In FasterXML jackson-databind before 2.13.4, resource exhaustion can occur because of a lack of a check in BeanDeserializer._deserializeFromArray to prevent use of deeply nested arrays. An application is vulnerable only with certain customized choices for deserialization. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, categorizing it as high severity, indicating significant risk to systems.
Risk to organizations includes potential service disruptions due to resource exhaustion, which can lead to application downtime or degraded performance. With an attack vector classified as network and low attack complexity, this vulnerability poses a considerable threat, especially for applications that rely on deep array structures in their deserialization processes.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The urgency of addressing this vulnerability stems from its nature of being easily exploitable under specific conditions, allowing attackers to impact availability without requiring any privileges or user interaction.
The vulnerability was published on October 2, 2022, and has been modified since. It highlights the importance of regularly updating dependencies and monitoring for vulnerabilities in widely used libraries.
Vulnerability Details
The official CVE description outlines that the vulnerability allows for resource exhaustion due to the absence of checks in the deserialization process. Specifically, the issue arises in the BeanDeserializer._deserializeFromArray method within versions of jackson-databind prior to 2.13.4. This flaw can lead to high availability impact, as indicated by the CVSS score of 7.5.
The affected products include multiple components, namely jackson-databind, quarkus, debian_linux, and oncommand_workflow_automation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-502, which pertains to deserialization of untrusted data.
Organizations utilizing these products should assess their versions and apply necessary updates to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from the lack of proper validation in the deserialization method, allowing attackers to exploit deeply nested arrays. The attack vector is classified as network, which means remote attackers can potentially trigger this vulnerability without physical access to the system. The complexity of the attack is low, requiring no special privileges or user interaction.
Confidentiality and integrity impacts are marked as none, indicating that this vulnerability does not lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information or modification of data. However, the availability impact is high, stressing the potential for significant service interruptions.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment of this vulnerability can lead to severe resource exhaustion, making applications unresponsive and affecting user experience. Given that the attack complexity is low and can be executed remotely, organizations must consider the blast radius of this vulnerability, especially in environments where jackson-databind is widely utilized.
The urgency assessment indicates that organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle, particularly those running versions prior to 2.13.4. Regular monitoring for such vulnerabilities can aid in maintaining a secure application environment.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerable versions of jackson-databind are all versions prior to 2.13.4, including those in the 2.12.x series. Additionally, Quarkus versions prior to 2.13.0 and Debian Linux versions 10.0 and 11.0 are also affected. It is crucial for organizations to verify their environments for these specific versions.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should update to jackson-databind version 2.13.4 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. For organizations using Quarkus, upgrading to version 2.13.0 or later is recommended. If immediate patching is not feasible, consider implementing configuration hardening and network controls to limit exposure.
Furthermore, organizations may benefit from engaging in penetration testing to validate remediation effectiveness.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring logs for unusual deserialization patterns or excessive resource consumption can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also look for behavioral anomalies in applications relying on jackson-databind and implement network signatures to identify potential attacks.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2022-42004 highlights the necessity of robust input validation in deserialization processes. This vulnerability represents a broader trend where attackers exploit weaknesses in data handling to achieve resource exhaustion. Security teams should take lessons from this incident to enhance their application security practices.
For comprehensive strategies, organizations can explore vulnerability management programs and consider adopting penetration testing methodologies to improve their defenses.
Additionally, organizations should regularly review and update their security practices in accordance with emerging trends.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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