CVE-2022-24440 in cocoapods-downloader
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2022
The package cocoapods-downloader before 1.6.0, from 1.6.2 and before 1.6.3 are vulnerable to Command Injection via git argument injection. When calling the Pod::Downloader.preprocess_options function and using git, both the git and branch parameters are passed to the git ls-remote subcommand in a way that additional flags can be set. The additional flags can be used to perform a command injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24440 affects the cocoapods-downloader package version prior to 1.6.0 and specifically impacts versions between 1.6.2 and 1.6.3. This issue represents a command injection vulnerability that arises from improper handling of git arguments within the Pod::Downloader.preprocess_options function. The flaw occurs when processing git operations, where both git and branch parameters are directly passed to the git ls-remote subcommand without adequate sanitization or validation. This injection point allows malicious actors to append additional git flags that can alter the command execution flow and potentially execute arbitrary commands on the system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper argument handling within the package management tooling ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic command injection flaw where user-controllable parameters are concatenated directly into system commands without proper escaping or sanitization. When the preprocess_options function processes git arguments, it fails to properly isolate the git and branch parameters from the underlying git ls-remote command execution. This allows attackers to inject additional command-line flags that can be interpreted by the git command, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the cocoapods-downloader process. The vulnerability specifically targets the git ls-remote subcommand which is used to fetch remote repository information, making it a critical point of exploitation within the dependency management workflow. This flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection vulnerabilities respectively, and follows patterns commonly seen in software supply chain attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-24440 extends beyond simple code execution as it compromises the integrity of the entire CocoaPods dependency management system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on systems where cocoapods-downloader is installed, potentially leading to complete system compromise or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects developers and organizations using iOS and macOS development environments who rely on CocoaPods for dependency management, creating a significant risk in development workflows where untrusted code repositories might be referenced. This issue can be exploited in continuous integration environments, automated build systems, and developer workstations, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where multiple developers might be using the affected package versions. The attack surface includes any scenario where pod install or related commands are executed with user-supplied repository or branch parameters, and the vulnerability can be triggered through maliciously crafted podfiles or compromised package repositories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-24440 require immediate patching of the cocoapods-downloader package to version 1.6.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly sanitize git arguments before passing them to the git ls-remote command. Organizations should implement comprehensive dependency monitoring to identify systems running vulnerable versions and ensure all development environments are updated. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network-level controls to restrict access to untrusted package repositories and establish proper code review processes for podfile modifications. The fix implemented in version 1.6.3 addresses the root cause by properly escaping or validating git arguments before command execution, preventing additional flags from being interpreted as part of the command. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in package management tools and highlights the need for proper input validation in all system command invocations. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter execution, emphasizing the need for proper input sanitization in development toolchains. Organizations should also consider implementing software composition analysis tools to monitor for vulnerable dependencies in their development environments and establish regular security scanning procedures for their package management infrastructure.