CVE-2022-25872 in fast-string-search
Summary
by MITRE • 06/18/2022
All versions of package fast-string-search are vulnerable to Out-of-bounds Read due to incorrect memory freeing and length calculation for any non-string input as the source. This allows the attacker to read previously allocated memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25872 affects the fast-string-search package, which is commonly used in node.js environments for efficient string searching operations. This issue represents a critical memory safety flaw that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data through out-of-bounds memory reads. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes when processing input data that does not conform to expected string formats. The flaw specifically manifests when the package encounters non-string inputs during its search operations, creating a scenario where memory boundaries are incorrectly calculated and accessed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a combination of memory management errors and incorrect length calculations that occur during the package's string processing routines. When non-string inputs are provided to the fast-string-search function, the underlying memory handling logic fails to properly account for the actual data boundaries, leading to attempts to read memory locations that may contain previously allocated data or sensitive information from other parts of the application's memory space. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The improper memory freeing operations compound the issue by leaving memory segments in an inconsistent state, allowing subsequent access patterns to retrieve data that should not be accessible to the current execution context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as attackers can potentially extract sensitive data from memory segments that were previously used by the application or other processes running in the same memory space. This includes but is not limited to database connection strings, API keys, user credentials, and other confidential information that may have been stored in memory. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where the fast-string-search package is used in web applications or server-side processing contexts where input validation may not be comprehensive enough to prevent malformed data from reaching the vulnerable code path. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific input sequences that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition, potentially leading to data leakage and system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25872 should focus on immediate remediation through package version updates that address the memory handling errors in the fast-string-search library. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms to ensure that only expected string data is processed by the vulnerable function, particularly in applications where user input may reach the search functionality. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection systems that can identify unusual memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" and potentially T1566.001 for "Social Engineering: Spearphishing Attachment", as attackers may leverage such vulnerabilities to extract sensitive data from compromised systems. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that emphasize proper memory management, bounds checking, and input sanitization to prevent similar issues in future implementations and reduce the attack surface for memory corruption vulnerabilities.