CVE-2022-24109 in ONOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/20/2023
An issue was discovered in ONOS 2.5.1. To attack an intent installed by a normal user, a remote attacker can install a duplicate intent with a different key, and then remove the duplicate one. This will remove the flow rules of the intent, even though the intent still exists in the controller.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24109 affects ONOS version 2.5.1, a software-defined networking controller platform that manages network functions and flow rules across distributed network infrastructure. This security flaw represents a significant authorization and access control weakness within the intent-based networking framework that ONOS implements. The vulnerability specifically targets the intent management system where network policies and flow configurations are stored and executed within the controller's memory space.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of intent keys and their associated flow rule management within the ONOS controller architecture. When a normal user installs an intent, the system stores both the intent definition and its corresponding flow rules in the controller's memory. However, the flaw allows an attacker to create a duplicate intent with a different key identifier while maintaining the same underlying flow configuration. The system's flow rule management logic does not properly distinguish between the original and duplicate intents when processing removal operations, leading to unintended consequences.
This vulnerability operates through a specific attack pattern that exploits the controller's intent resolution and flow rule deletion mechanisms. The attacker first installs a duplicate intent with a modified key, which creates a parallel entry in the controller's intent database. When the attacker subsequently removes this duplicate intent, the controller's internal logic incorrectly interprets this operation as affecting the original intent's flow rules rather than the duplicate entry. This misinterpretation causes the controller to delete the flow rules associated with the original intent while leaving the intent definition itself intact in the controller's memory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables unauthorized network disruption and potential access control bypass. Network administrators may lose visibility into their network configurations since the intent remains present in the controller but with its associated flow rules removed. This creates a false sense of security where network policies appear to be active but are functionally inactive, potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access or execute further attacks without detection. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where network administrators rely on intent-based policies for traffic management, security enforcement, and network automation.
The flaw aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and demonstrates weaknesses in the controller's intent management authorization model. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 for valid accounts and T1490 for network denial of service, as it enables both unauthorized access to network resources and potential disruption of legitimate network operations. The vulnerability also relates to T1566 for credential harvesting through unauthorized access to network management interfaces. Organizations implementing ONOS controllers should consider this issue as a critical threat to network integrity and security posture, particularly in environments where network access control is paramount.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of ONOS to version 2.5.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for intent key handling and flow rule management. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring for intent installations and removals, particularly focusing on duplicate intent creation patterns. The controller should be configured with strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized users from installing duplicate intents. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and role-based access controls can limit the scope of potential exploitation, while regular security audits of intent installations can help detect anomalous behavior patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing automated alerting systems that trigger when duplicate intent keys are detected during installation or removal operations, providing early warning of potential exploitation attempts.