CVE-2022-0139 in radare2
Summary
by MITRE • 02/08/2022
Use After Free in GitHub repository radareorg/radare2 prior to 5.6.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0139 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the radare2 reverse engineering framework, specifically affecting versions prior to 5.6.0. This issue arises from improper memory management practices where the software attempts to access memory locations that have already been freed, creating potential avenues for arbitrary code execution and system compromise. The vulnerability exists within the radare2 codebase, a widely-used open-source binary analysis tool that serves security researchers, developers, and penetration testers in examining and understanding software binaries. The use-after-free flaw manifests when the application processes certain binary formats or performs specific analysis operations, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory conditions in software applications. This particular flaw demonstrates how improper memory deallocation and subsequent access patterns can create exploitable conditions within the software's execution flow. The vulnerability occurs during the handling of binary data structures where the application allocates memory for processing specific file formats, frees that memory appropriately, but later attempts to reference the freed memory location during subsequent operations. This pattern creates a predictable memory access violation that can be manipulated to achieve unauthorized code execution. The flaw is particularly concerning in the context of reverse engineering tools since these applications often process untrusted binary data from various sources, making them attractive targets for exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0139 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This represents a significant security risk in environments where radare2 is used for analyzing potentially malicious software, as an attacker could craft specially formatted binary files that trigger the use-after-free condition. The vulnerability affects both local and remote exploitation scenarios, particularly when radare2 is used in automated analysis systems or web-based interfaces where untrusted input is processed. The potential for privilege escalation exists when the vulnerable application runs with elevated permissions, and the memory corruption can lead to complete system compromise. This vulnerability is classified under the attack technique T1059 in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically related to command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious commands through the compromised application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0139 primarily focus on upgrading to radare2 version 5.6.0 or later, which includes proper memory management fixes that prevent the use-after-free condition. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all instances of radare2 are updated to secure versions. Additional protective measures include restricting the execution environment for radare2, implementing sandboxing techniques for processing untrusted binary data, and employing input validation controls to prevent malformed data from triggering the vulnerability. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews in open-source projects, particularly those handling binary data processing, as these tools often become targets for sophisticated attacks due to their widespread use in security operations and research environments.