Overview
CVE-2022-38696 is a critical security vulnerability that has been identified in the BootRom software, which if exploited, could lead to a buffer overflow condition. This condition could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, leading to system compromise or data leakage. Given the ubiquitous nature of BootRom in various devices and systems, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations, necessitating immediate attention and mitigation.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2022-38696
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
BootRom | All versions prior to the latest patch
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability originates from a missing payload size check within the BootRom software. As a result, an attacker can send an excessively large payload to the system, causing a buffer overflow. This overflow can corrupt data, crash the system, or allow the execution of malicious code. Since no additional execution privileges are required, the vulnerability can be exploited by any attacker who can reach the system over the network.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability using a malicious payload.
POST /bootrom/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/octet-stream
{ "payload": "A".repeat(1000000) }In the example above, the attacker sends a POST request to the vulnerable BootRom endpoint with an excessively large payload. The ‘A’.repeat(1000000) is a placeholder for a payload large enough to cause a buffer overflow.
How to Mitigate the Risk
The most effective way to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability is to apply the latest patch provided by the vendor. This patch addresses the payload size check issue, thus preventing the buffer overflow condition.
For those unable to immediately apply the patch, temporary mitigation can be achieved through the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). These systems can be configured to monitor and block suspiciously large payloads, offering some protection until the patch can be applied. However, this is a temporary solution and does not fully address the underlying issue. As such, applying the patch should be prioritized as soon as feasible.
