CVE-2019-25057 in Corda
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2022
In Corda before 4.1, the meaning of serialized data can be modified via an attacker-controlled CustomSerializer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25057 represents a critical security flaw in the Corda distributed ledger platform prior to version 4.1. This issue resides in the platform's serialization mechanism and specifically affects how custom serializers are handled within the system. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to manipulate serialized data by leveraging attacker-controlled custom serializers, fundamentally compromising the integrity and authenticity of data exchanged across the Corda network. This weakness exists in the core serialization framework that governs how data objects are converted to and from binary representations during network communication and database storage operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of custom serializer implementations within Corda's serialization infrastructure. When applications or nodes utilize custom serializers to handle specific data types, the platform fails to properly verify the legitimacy and safety of these serializer implementations. Attackers can craft malicious custom serializers that alter the interpretation of serialized data during deserialization processes, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or data manipulation. This flaw operates at the serialization layer, where data objects are transformed for network transmission and storage, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect any serialized data object that relies on custom serializer logic. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-457 as "Use of Uninitialized Variable" and also relates to CWE-94 as "Improper Control of Generation of Code" since it allows for code manipulation through serialized data.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-25057 extends beyond simple data corruption, potentially enabling sophisticated attacks that can compromise entire Corda networks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify transaction data, alter smart contract execution parameters, or inject malicious code that executes within the Corda node environment. This capability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the distributed ledger system, as it allows for manipulation of data that should remain immutable and trustworthy. The vulnerability affects both the network-level communication and the node-level data persistence mechanisms, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors. In enterprise environments using Corda for financial transactions, supply chain management, or other critical applications, this vulnerability could lead to significant financial losses, regulatory compliance issues, and reputational damage. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it can be exploited through legitimate network communication channels without requiring elevated privileges or specialized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-25057 primarily focus on upgrading to Corda version 4.1 or later, where the serialization mechanism has been significantly strengthened to prevent attacker-controlled custom serializers from modifying serialized data interpretation. Organizations should implement strict controls over custom serializer implementations, including thorough code reviews, static analysis, and runtime monitoring of serializer usage. The recommended approach involves disabling or carefully validating any custom serializers that are not part of the official Corda library, as well as implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous serialization patterns. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all Corda applications and nodes to identify potential exposure to this vulnerability. The mitigation process should include updating all dependencies and ensuring that any custom serialization logic adheres to security best practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations may also need to consider implementing additional layers of data integrity verification and cryptographic signatures to protect against potential exploitation of this vulnerability even in environments where immediate upgrades are not feasible.