CVE-2022-28656 in Apport
Summary
by MITRE • 06/05/2024
is_closing_session() allows users to consume RAM in the Apport process
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28656 resides within the Apport crash reporting system used by Ubuntu and other debian-based distributions. This issue specifically affects the is_closing_session() function which is responsible for determining whether a user session is terminating. The flaw enables malicious users to exploit this function to consume excessive amounts of random access memory within the Apport process itself. Apport serves as a system component that collects crash information and generates diagnostic reports when applications fail or the system encounters issues. The vulnerability represents a denial of service condition where an attacker can cause the Apport process to consume escalating amounts of memory resources, potentially leading to system instability or resource exhaustion.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and resource management within the is_closing_session() function. When users interact with the Apport system in specific ways, particularly during session termination events, the function fails to properly monitor or limit memory allocation. This allows for unbounded memory consumption that can grow continuously until system resources are depleted. The flaw exists in how the function handles session state transitions and memory allocation during crash reporting operations, creating a path where malicious input can trigger excessive memory usage patterns. This issue demonstrates poor resource management practices and inadequate bounds checking within critical system components that handle user session events.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28656 extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, potentially affecting system availability and stability for legitimate users. When the Apport process consumes excessive RAM, it can cause system slowdowns, application failures, or even complete system hangs, particularly on systems with limited memory resources. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in server environments where Apport might be actively monitoring multiple user sessions, as it could be exploited to cause widespread service disruption. The memory consumption pattern can be particularly insidious because it may not be immediately apparent to system administrators, as the Apport process continues to function normally while silently consuming resources. This vulnerability can be leveraged as part of broader attack strategies to degrade system performance or as a precursor to more serious exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28656 should focus on implementing proper resource limits and input validation within the Apport system. System administrators should ensure that the affected software packages are updated to versions that contain patches addressing this memory consumption issue. The fix typically involves implementing memory usage caps for the is_closing_session() function and adding proper bounds checking to prevent unbounded allocation patterns. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual memory consumption patterns in the Apport process, enabling early detection of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing process limits and resource controls that prevent any single process from consuming excessive memory resources. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-772, which addresses insufficient resource management, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for resource exhaustion attacks. Regular security audits of system components that handle user sessions and crash reporting should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that could be exploited to consume system resources.