CVE-2022-44900 : What You Need to Know

A directory traversal vulnerability in the SevenZipFile.extractall() function of the python library py7zr v0.20.0 and earlier allows attackers to write arbitrary files via extracting a crafted 7z file.

Understanding CVE-2022-44900

This section will provide insights into the nature and impact of CVE-2022-44900.

What is CVE-2022-44900?

CVE-2022-44900 is a directory traversal vulnerability found in the SevenZipFile.extractall() function of the python library py7zr version 0.20.0 and prior. Exploiting this vulnerability enables malicious actors to write arbitrary files by extracting a specially crafted 7z file.

The Impact of CVE-2022-44900

The impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows unauthorized users to manipulate the filesystem and write arbitrary files, potentially leading to further exploitation or data loss.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-44900

In this section, we will delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2022-44900.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the extractall() function of py7zr version 0.20.0 and earlier, which fails to properly sanitize file paths, allowing attackers to traverse directories and write files to arbitrary locations.

Affected Systems and Versions

All systems using the python library py7zr with versions up to and including 0.20.0 are vulnerable to CVE-2022-44900.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by creating a malicious 7z archive with specially crafted file paths to perform directory traversal and write files to unintended locations on the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section focuses on the steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2022-44900.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update py7zr library to the latest version to patch the vulnerability.
Avoid extracting 7z files from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices such as input validation and proper file path handling to mitigate similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches from the official py7zr repository to stay protected against known vulnerabilities.