CVE-2022-36038 in CircuitVerse
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2022
CircuitVerse is an open-source platform which allows users to construct digital logic circuits online. A remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in CircuitVerse allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code via specially crafted JSON payloads. This issue may lead to Remote Code Execution (RCE). A patch is available in commit number 7b3023a99499a7675f10f2c1d9effdf10c35fb6e. There are currently no known workarounds.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2022
The CVE-2022-36038 vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the CircuitVerse platform, an open-source digital circuit design environment that enables users to construct and simulate logic circuits online. This vulnerability specifically affects the platform's handling of JSON payloads, creating a dangerous attack surface for authenticated adversaries who can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially leverage this flaw to gain full system control. The issue resides in how the platform processes user-supplied JSON data, which is commonly used for circuit design specifications and configuration parameters within the digital logic environment. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-94 category of "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of arbitrary code through malformed input processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the CircuitVerse application's JSON parsing mechanisms. When authenticated users submit specially crafted JSON payloads, the platform fails to properly validate or sanitize the input data before processing it, allowing malicious code to be executed within the application's runtime environment. This flaw typically occurs when the application directly interprets or executes JSON data without proper security measures such as input filtering, sandboxing, or code execution restrictions. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway demonstrates a classic command injection vulnerability where JSON data containing executable code or malicious commands can be parsed and executed by the underlying system. Attackers can construct JSON objects that contain code execution directives, which when processed by the application's backend, result in unauthorized code execution on the server. The lack of proper validation allows attackers to bypass normal security controls and potentially escalate privileges to gain full administrative access to the platform's infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected CircuitVerse platform and potentially the underlying infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify or delete user circuits, access sensitive data, compromise user accounts, and potentially use the platform as a launching point for further attacks against other systems within the network. The vulnerability's authentication requirement means that attackers need valid user credentials, but this requirement does not significantly limit the attack surface since many users may have weak credentials or may be targeted through social engineering or credential theft techniques. Organizations using CircuitVerse may face data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations if this vulnerability is exploited. The impact is particularly concerning for educational institutions that use CircuitVerse for teaching digital logic design, as attackers could compromise the learning environment and access student work. Additionally, since the vulnerability affects an open-source platform, it could impact numerous deployments across different organizations and institutions that have implemented their own versions of the software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-36038 should focus on immediate patch application, as a fix is available in commit 7b3023a99499a7675f10f2c1d9effdf10c35fb6e. Organizations should prioritize updating their CircuitVerse installations to the patched version to eliminate the vulnerability. In addition to patching, administrators should implement additional security measures such as input validation, rate limiting, and monitoring for suspicious JSON payload submissions. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the platform. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly around input validation and sanitization, and emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious JSON payloads, and establish incident response procedures to quickly address any exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of validating all user inputs, especially in applications that process structured data formats such as JSON, and demonstrates how seemingly benign input handling can create catastrophic security implications.