CVE-2022-28044 in Irzip
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2022
Irzip v0.640 was discovered to contain a heap memory corruption via the component lrzip.c:initialise_control.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28044 affects Irzip version 0.640 and represents a critical heap memory corruption flaw located within the lrzip.c component during the initialise_control function execution. This issue arises from improper memory management practices that allow attackers to manipulate heap allocated memory regions through crafted input data. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflow conditions where memory boundaries are exceeded during program execution, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes compressed data streams, making it particularly dangerous in environments where decompression of untrusted files occurs.
From a technical perspective, the heap memory corruption vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory allocation validation within the initialise_control function. The lrzip.c module handles control structure initialization for the compression library, where insufficient input validation allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent heap memory blocks. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent causes of system compromise in software applications. The vulnerability can be exploited through carefully crafted compressed files that trigger the problematic code path during decompression operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it creates potential attack vectors for remote code execution and system compromise. When exploited successfully, the heap corruption can lead to denial of service conditions, arbitrary code execution, or information disclosure depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation techniques employed. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by preparing malicious compressed files that, when processed by Irzip v0.640, trigger the heap corruption during decompression. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where automated decompression of user-uploaded files occurs, such as web applications, file processing services, or content delivery systems. The vulnerability affects any system running Irzip version 0.640 that processes untrusted compressed data, creating widespread potential for exploitation across various deployment scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28044 should prioritize immediate version updates to Irzip releases that contain patches addressing the heap memory corruption issue. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures for all compressed data processing operations, particularly in applications that handle user-supplied files. The implementation of address space layout randomization ASLR and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should limit exposure to systems running vulnerable Irzip versions, while regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify potential exploitation paths. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of memory safety practices in compression libraries and highlights the necessity of thorough code review processes for security-sensitive components that handle untrusted data input. This type of vulnerability is often categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation may involve command execution through compromised memory regions.