CVE-2022-29608 in ONOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/20/2023
An issue was discovered in ONOS 2.5.1. An intent with a port that is an intermediate point of its path installs an invalid flow rule, causing a network loop.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-29608 affects ONOS version 2.5.1, a software-defined networking (SDN) platform designed to manage and control network infrastructure through centralized applications. This issue represents a critical flaw in the intent-based networking approach that ONOS employs to establish network connectivity. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an intent is configured with a port that serves as an intermediate point within its intended path, creating a fundamental logical error in the flow rule generation process. This flaw directly impacts the network's ability to maintain proper connectivity while introducing potentially dangerous routing behaviors.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of path validation within ONOS's intent management system. When an intent specifies a port that functions as a transit point in its path configuration, the system fails to properly validate the logical consistency of this arrangement. This results in the installation of malformed flow rules that create unintended forwarding loops within the network fabric. The flow rule generation algorithm does not adequately account for the possibility that a port might serve as both an ingress and egress point within the same logical path, leading to the creation of circular forwarding paths that can cause packets to be endlessly forwarded between network elements. This represents a classic case of inadequate input validation and path consistency checking within the control plane software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and can result in significant network disruption and performance degradation. Network loops created by the invalid flow rules can cause broadcast storms, where packets circulate indefinitely through the network, consuming bandwidth and processing resources. This behavior can lead to complete network paralysis or severe performance degradation that affects all network services. The vulnerability affects the fundamental reliability of the SDN controller, as it can cause unexpected routing behavior that is difficult to diagnose and isolate. Network administrators may experience difficulties in troubleshooting connectivity issues since the loop creation occurs at the flow rule level rather than through obvious network failures. The impact extends beyond simple connectivity issues to potentially compromise network security by creating unexpected communication pathways that could be exploited by malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-29608 should focus on immediate patching of the ONOS platform to version 2.5.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the intent path validation logic. Organizations should implement comprehensive testing of all existing intents before upgrading to ensure that no existing configurations are impacted by the fix. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual forwarding patterns that might indicate loop formation, particularly focusing on flow rule creation events and packet forwarding behavior. The fix addresses the underlying CWE-835 issue related to loop detection and handling in software systems, aligning with best practices for preventing infinite loops in control plane applications. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of any loops that might persist after patching. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper intent validation and the need for robust control plane error handling, particularly in distributed network management systems where a single logical error can cascade into widespread network disruption. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a network denial of service attack vector through control plane manipulation, emphasizing the critical nature of maintaining proper network flow rule consistency in SDN environments.