CVE-2022-25598 in DolphinScheduler
Summary
by MITRE • 03/30/2022
Apache DolphinScheduler user registration is vulnerable to Regular express Denial of Service (ReDoS) attacks, Apache DolphinScheduler users should upgrade to version 2.0.5 or higher.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25598 affects Apache DolphinScheduler, a distributed workflow scheduling tool that enables users to create, manage, and monitor complex data processing workflows. This particular flaw resides in the user registration functionality of the platform, making it susceptible to Regular Expression Denial of Service attacks that can disrupt normal service operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts the input validation mechanism used during user registration processes, where improperly crafted input can trigger catastrophic backtracking in regular expression patterns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the use of inefficient regular expressions within the user registration validation logic. When a malicious user submits specially crafted input containing carefully constructed regular expression patterns, the system's regex engine can enter into a state of exponential backtracking, consuming excessive CPU resources and ultimately causing the service to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-400, which classifies improper input validation leading to resource exhaustion. The attack vector operates through the user registration endpoint where input fields are validated using regular expressions that lack proper optimization against malicious inputs.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Apache DolphinScheduler for critical data processing workflows. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform denial of service attacks against the user registration system, potentially preventing legitimate users from creating accounts or accessing the platform. The resource exhaustion effects can cascade to impact other system components, particularly in environments where the platform handles high volumes of registration requests. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend on the platform's user management capabilities and could result in service disruption during critical business operations or data processing cycles. The attack requires minimal technical skill to execute and can be automated, making it a particularly dangerous threat vector for unpatched systems.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Apache DolphinScheduler version 2.0.5 or higher to remediate this vulnerability, as this release includes fixed regular expression patterns that eliminate the potential for catastrophic backtracking. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing additional input validation layers at the network perimeter through web application firewalls or similar protective measures. Security teams should conduct comprehensive testing of the updated platform to ensure no regressions in functionality while verifying that the vulnerable regex patterns have been properly replaced with secure alternatives. The fix typically involves replacing the problematic regular expressions with more efficient patterns that do not exhibit exponential backtracking behavior, following best practices recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices. Organizations should also implement monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain regular vulnerability assessment schedules to identify similar issues in other components of their software ecosystem.