CVE-2022-24329 in Communications Cloud Native Core Policy
Summary
by MITRE • 02/25/2022
In JetBrains Kotlin before 1.6.0, it was not possible to lock dependencies for Multiplatform Gradle Projects.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2024
This vulnerability affects JetBrains Kotlin versions prior to 1.6.0 and specifically impacts Multiplatform Gradle Projects where dependency locking mechanisms were not properly implemented. The issue stems from the absence of dependency locking capabilities within the Kotlin Multiplatform build system, which creates significant security and stability risks for developers working with cross-platform applications. The vulnerability represents a weakness in the build tooling ecosystem where the inability to lock dependencies can lead to inconsistent builds and potential supply chain attacks.
The technical flaw manifests in the Gradle build configuration for Kotlin Multiplatform projects where the dependency resolution process lacks proper locking mechanisms. This means that when developers specify dependencies for their multiplatform projects, the build system does not enforce consistent versions across different platforms or build environments. Without dependency locking, projects may resolve different versions of the same dependency based on various factors such as network conditions, repository availability, or timing of builds. This inconsistency can result in subtle bugs that only appear in specific environments or build configurations, making debugging and maintenance significantly more complex.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple build inconsistencies to encompass security implications within the software supply chain. When dependencies are not locked, malicious actors could potentially introduce vulnerabilities through dependency updates that occur between build runs. This scenario creates a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit the system by pushing malicious versions of dependencies that may be resolved during the build process. Additionally, the lack of dependency locking can lead to build reproducibility issues, where identical source code produces different binary outputs, undermining the integrity of the software development lifecycle. Organizations relying on Kotlin Multiplatform projects may experience unexpected application behavior, regression failures, and increased maintenance overhead.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to JetBrains Kotlin 1.6.0 or later to resolve this vulnerability and implement proper dependency locking mechanisms in their Gradle configurations. The recommended mitigation involves enabling Gradle dependency locking by adding the appropriate configuration to build files and ensuring all team members follow consistent build practices. Security teams should monitor for any potential supply chain attacks that could exploit this vulnerability and implement additional verification processes for dependency resolution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1032 which addresses insufficient dependency locking and is related to ATT&CK technique T1195.002 which covers supply chain compromises through dependency hijacking. Organizations should also consider implementing software composition analysis tools to track and monitor their dependencies for known vulnerabilities, as this particular weakness creates an environment where such attacks can be more easily executed.