CVE-2022-1031 in radare2
Summary
by MITRE • 03/23/2022
Use After Free in op_is_set_bp in GitHub repository radareorg/radare2 prior to 5.6.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1031 represents a critical use-after-free condition affecting the radare2 reverse engineering framework. This flaw exists within the op_is_set_bp function of the radare2 codebase, specifically in versions prior to 5.6.6. The issue manifests when the software attempts to access memory that has already been freed, creating a potential exploitation vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise systems running affected versions of this popular binary analysis tool.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the op_is_set_bp function where the software fails to properly validate memory references before accessing them. This use-after-free condition occurs when a program continues to reference memory locations that have been deallocated, potentially leading to undefined behavior, application crashes, or more severe consequences. The flaw is particularly concerning because radare2 is widely used by security researchers, developers, and penetration testers for analyzing binary files and debugging applications, making any vulnerability within this tool potentially exploitable in various security contexts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of radare2, particularly in environments where security professionals might be analyzing suspicious binaries or conducting penetration testing activities. The impact extends beyond simple application instability, as the memory corruption could potentially be leveraged to escalate privileges or bypass security controls. Security researchers using radare2 for legitimate purposes might unknowingly expose themselves to exploitation when analyzing malicious samples, creating a significant risk in security tooling that is fundamental to the cybersecurity ecosystem.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory condition in software development. This classification indicates that the flaw represents a classic memory safety issue that has been documented in numerous security advisories and represents a fundamental weakness in the program's memory management practices. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under techniques involving memory corruption and privilege escalation, as attackers could potentially leverage such flaws to gain elevated system access or manipulate program execution flow.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate upgrading to radare2 version 5.6.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches addressing this use-after-free condition. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring for anomalous behavior in systems where radare2 is deployed. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their radare2 installations and ensure that all users are educated about the risks associated with analyzing untrusted binary samples. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from accumulating in critical security tooling infrastructure.