CVE-2022-3147 in Mattermost
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2022
Mattermost version 7.0.x and earlier fails to sufficiently limit the in-memory sizes of concurrently uploaded JPEG images, which allows authenticated users to cause resource exhaustion on specific system configurations, resulting in server-side Denial of Service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-3147 affects Mattermost versions 7.0.x and earlier, specifically targeting the handling of JPEG image uploads within the platform's file management system. This issue represents a critical resource exhaustion flaw that can be exploited by authenticated users to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of image dimensions and memory requirements during the upload process, particularly for JPEG format files that can be manipulated to consume excessive memory resources.
The technical flaw manifests when Mattermost processes JPEG images that have been crafted to appear legitimate but contain embedded data structures that cause the application to allocate disproportionate amounts of memory during decoding operations. This occurs because the system does not enforce adequate limits on the maximum dimensions or memory consumption of concurrently uploaded images, allowing malicious actors to submit images that trigger memory allocation patterns leading to system resource exhaustion. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the Mattermost server has limited memory resources or when multiple concurrent upload operations occur simultaneously.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a server-side denial of service condition that can severely disrupt collaboration services within organizations relying on Mattermost for communication. When exploited successfully, authenticated users can cause the Mattermost server to consume all available memory resources, leading to application crashes, service unavailability, and potential system instability. The impact is exacerbated in scenarios where the server operates under high load conditions or where memory constraints are already present, making the system more susceptible to resource exhaustion attacks. This vulnerability directly affects the availability component of the CIA security triad and can be leveraged to disrupt business continuity operations.
The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-400 as "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for "Endpoint Denial of Service" within the context of server-side resource exhaustion attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enforcing strict limits on image dimensions and memory consumption during upload processing, implementing rate limiting for file uploads, and configuring appropriate memory constraints for the Mattermost application. The recommended solution involves upgrading to Mattermost version 7.1.0 or later, which includes patches addressing this specific resource exhaustion vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual memory consumption patterns and establish automated alerts when resource usage exceeds normal operational thresholds, providing early detection capabilities for potential exploitation attempts.