CVE-2022-2191 in Communications Cloud Native Core Unified Data Repository
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2022
In Eclipse Jetty versions 10.0.0 thru 10.0.9, and 11.0.0 thru 11.0.9 versions, SslConnection does not release ByteBuffers from configured ByteBufferPool in case of error code paths.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2191 affects the Eclipse Jetty web server and servlet container implementations, specifically targeting versions 10.0.0 through 10.0.9 and 11.0.0 through 11.0.9. This issue resides within the Secure Sockets Layer connection handling mechanism where the SslConnection component fails to properly release ByteBuffers back to the configured ByteBufferPool during error conditions. The flaw represents a memory management oversight that can lead to resource exhaustion and potential denial of service scenarios within applications relying on Jetty's SSL capabilities.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper resource cleanup mechanisms within the SSL connection lifecycle. When error conditions occur during SSL handshakes or data processing, the SslConnection class does not execute the necessary cleanup routines to return allocated ByteBuffers to their respective pools. This behavior creates a memory leak pattern where buffer resources become permanently allocated and unavailable for reuse, even after the connection terminates or errors occur. The issue manifests specifically in code paths that handle exceptional conditions, making it particularly dangerous during high-traffic scenarios or when malicious actors deliberately trigger error conditions to amplify resource consumption.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can severely affect system stability and performance of applications using affected Jetty versions. The gradual accumulation of unreleased ByteBuffers leads to memory exhaustion, which can result in application crashes, degraded performance, or complete system unresponsiveness. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by initiating numerous SSL connections and deliberately causing errors to accelerate memory consumption, thereby achieving a denial of service condition against the target system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-404, which describes improper resource release or cleanup, and represents a classic case of resource leak that can be leveraged for availability attacks.
Organizations utilizing affected Jetty versions should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions where available, typically Jetty 10.0.10 and 11.0.10 or later releases. Additionally, system administrators should monitor memory usage patterns and implement resource monitoring solutions to detect early signs of buffer exhaustion. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, as it enables attackers to consume system resources and render services unavailable. Organizations should also consider implementing connection limits and rate limiting mechanisms to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments across their infrastructure to identify all systems running affected Jetty versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly.