CVE-2022-22912 in Plist
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2022
Prototype pollution vulnerability via .parse() in Plist before v3.0.4 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) and may lead to remote code execution.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2022
The CVE-2022-22912 vulnerability represents a critical prototype pollution flaw within the Plist library version 3.0.3 and earlier, which can be exploited to execute remote code or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability specifically affects the .parse() method implementation within the plist library, which is commonly used for parsing property list files in node.js applications. The prototype pollution occurs when untrusted input is processed through the parsing function, allowing attackers to manipulate the prototype of objects within the application's memory space. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-471 category of "Modification of Assumed-Immutable Data" and can be classified as a CWE-476 "NULL Pointer Dereference" when exploited for denial of service conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability begins with an attacker crafting malicious input data that contains specially formatted property list structures designed to pollute the Object.prototype. When the vulnerable .parse() function processes this input, it inadvertently modifies the prototype chain of objects, potentially allowing attackers to inject malicious properties or methods into the global prototype. This pollution can then be leveraged by attackers to manipulate object behavior, leading to unexpected execution paths within the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through user-supplied input that gets parsed by the plist library, making it exploitable in web applications, server-side processing systems, or any environment where plist files are parsed from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-22912 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include potential remote code execution capabilities, making it a severe threat to application security. When successfully exploited, prototype pollution can enable attackers to bypass security controls, manipulate application logic, or inject malicious code that executes within the application's context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where applications process user-uploaded plist files or receive plist data from external sources, as these scenarios provide direct attack vectors. The attack surface is broad across node.js applications, including web servers, API endpoints, and backend services that utilize the plist library for configuration management or data processing. Organizations using affected versions of the plist library should consider this vulnerability as a critical threat that could lead to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-22912 require immediate remediation through version updates to plist library version 3.0.4 or later, which contains patches addressing the prototype pollution vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious data from reaching the vulnerable parsing functions, following the principle of least privilege and input sanitization practices recommended by the OWASP Top Ten. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1190 "Exploit Public-Facing Application" and T1068 "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," highlighting the need for network segmentation and application hardening. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts, as prototype pollution attacks may not always result in immediate system compromise but can establish persistent backdoors or enable more sophisticated attacks over time. Regular security assessments and dependency updates should be part of ongoing security hygiene practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into applications.