CVE-2022-38751 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A detailed analysis of the Denial of Service vulnerability in SnakeYAML

Understanding CVE-2022-38751

This CVE identifies a Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability in SnakeYAML, where using SnakeYAML to parse untrusted YAML files can lead to DoS attacks.

What is CVE-2022-38751?

The vulnerability in SnakeYAML arises when the parser is running on user-supplied input. An attacker can provide malicious content that may cause the parser to crash due to a stack overflow.

The Impact of CVE-2022-38751

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as MEDIUM severity with a base score of 6.5. If exploited, it could result in a DoS situation where the availability of the system is compromised.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-38751

This section dives deeper into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

CVE-2022-38751 is classified as CWE-121, a Stack-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability. It allows attackers to disrupt the normal operation of the parser by supplying specially crafted input.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects SnakeYAML versions prior to 1.31, categorized as 'affected' for custom versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

By providing specially crafted content in YAML files, attackers can trigger a stack overflow condition, leading to a crash of the parser.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2022-38751 involves immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update SnakeYAML to version 1.31 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, avoid parsing untrusted YAML files whenever possible.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation mechanisms to sanitize user-supplied data and prevent specially crafted input from causing crashes.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitor for security advisories and apply patches promptly to ensure system integrity and security.