CVE-2022-1615 in Samba
Summary
by MITRE • 09/02/2022
In Samba, GnuTLS gnutls_rnd() can fail and give predictable random values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1615 affects the Samba file sharing implementation and specifically targets the cryptographic random number generation mechanism used within the GnuTLS library. This flaw exists in the gnutls_rnd() function which is responsible for generating cryptographically secure random values required for various security operations including key generation, nonce creation, and session identifier establishment. The vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling and fallback mechanisms when the underlying random number generator fails to produce sufficient entropy, leading to the generation of predictable or repeated random values that compromise the security of cryptographic operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the interaction between Samba's network services and the GnuTLS cryptographic library where the gnutls_rnd() function does not properly validate or handle failure conditions during random number generation. When the random number generator encounters an error state or insufficient entropy conditions, the function may return previously used values or values that follow predictable patterns rather than truly random sequences. This behavior directly violates the fundamental requirements for cryptographic security where random values must be unpredictable and uniformly distributed to prevent attackers from deriving sensitive information or bypassing security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1615 extends across multiple Samba service implementations including file sharing, print services, and authentication mechanisms that rely on secure random number generation. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to predict session identifiers, cryptographic keys, or other security parameters used by Samba services, thereby enabling unauthorized access to shared resources, session hijacking, or credential theft. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Samba serves as a primary file server or domain controller, as these systems often handle sensitive data and authentication operations where predictable random values could significantly weaken the overall security posture.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-330 which describes the use of insufficiently random values in cryptographic contexts, and represents a critical weakness in randomness generation that undermines the security of cryptographic protocols. From an adversary perspective, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for unsecured credentials and T1078.002 for valid accounts, as attackers could leverage predictable random values to gain unauthorized access to systems or escalate privileges. The vulnerability also relates to T1210 which involves exploitation of remote services and T1566 which covers social engineering attacks that could be facilitated by compromised cryptographic security. Organizations using Samba services should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of additional security controls including monitoring for anomalous authentication patterns and ensuring proper entropy sources are available for cryptographic operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1615 include applying the latest security patches from Samba and GnuTLS vendors, implementing proper entropy source monitoring, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of cryptographic implementations. System administrators should also consider implementing additional logging and monitoring for random number generation failures, ensuring that systems maintain adequate entropy through hardware random number generators or entropy collection services. Regular security audits should verify that cryptographic libraries are properly configured and that fallback mechanisms are appropriately implemented to prevent the generation of predictable values in error conditions. Organizations should also review their Samba configurations to ensure that security-sensitive operations are not relying on potentially compromised random number generation mechanisms and implement proper key rotation policies to minimize the impact of any potential exploitation attempts.