CVE-2022-0525 in mruby
Summary
by MITRE • 02/09/2022
Out-of-bounds Read in Homebrew mruby prior to 3.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0525 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw affecting the mruby implementation of the Homebrew package manager ecosystem. This issue manifests within the mruby interpreter version prior to 3.2, where improper bounds checking during array and string operations can lead to memory access violations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of array indices and string offsets, allowing maliciously crafted input to trigger memory reads beyond allocated buffer boundaries.
This out-of-bounds read vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient input validation leading to buffer overflows and memory corruption. The flaw operates at the interpreter level within mruby's core execution engine, where array operations and string manipulations lack proper boundary verification mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by providing specially crafted input that causes the interpreter to access memory locations outside the intended data structures, potentially leading to information disclosure, application crashes, or in more severe scenarios, remote code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0525 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can be leveraged in broader exploitation chains within the Homebrew ecosystem. When Homebrew processes package definitions or configuration files containing malicious mruby scripts, the interpreter's failure to validate array bounds creates opportunities for attackers to extract sensitive information from memory or cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where Homebrew is used to manage critical infrastructure components, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to system information or disrupt package management operations.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for phishing with social engineering. The attack surface includes any system where Homebrew executes untrusted mruby code, particularly in automated build environments or package repositories where malicious actors might inject compromised package definitions. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through package installation or update processes, making it a significant concern for system administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining package integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0525 focus primarily on immediate version upgrades to mruby 3.2 or later, which contain the necessary bounds checking fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive package verification procedures and maintain strict control over package sources to prevent installation of compromised packages. Additionally, runtime monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their Homebrew environments and implement automated patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure.