CVE-2022-39259 in jadx
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2022
jadx is a set of command line and GUI tools for producing Java source code from Android Dex and Apk files. versions prior to 1.4.5 are subject to a Denial of Service when opening zip files with HTML sequences. This issue has been patched in version 1.4.5. There are no known workarounds.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-39259 affects jadx, a popular decompilation tool used to extract Java source code from Android applications. This tool serves as an essential component in reverse engineering and security analysis of mobile applications, making it a critical element in the cybersecurity landscape. The vulnerability specifically manifests when jadx processes zip files containing HTML sequences, creating a denial of service condition that can disrupt the tool's normal operation and prevent analysts from performing their intended tasks.
The technical flaw resides in jadx's handling of malformed HTML sequences within zip file structures during the decompilation process. When the tool encounters these specific HTML constructs within compressed archives, it fails to properly parse or validate the input data, leading to a service disruption that can cause the application to crash or become unresponsive. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and can be classified as CWE-20, which represents "Improper Input Validation" in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The vulnerability specifically impacts the parsing logic that handles compressed file formats, where the tool's internal state becomes corrupted or enters an infinite loop when processing these malformed inputs.
From an operational standpoint, this denial of service vulnerability poses significant risks to security analysts and reverse engineers who rely on jadx for their work. The impact extends beyond simple tool disruption, as it can halt critical security assessments, malware analysis, and application security reviews that depend on jadx functionality. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious zip files with embedded HTML sequences, causing legitimate security tools to fail and disrupting the workflow of security professionals. This vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the security tool's operation and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers "Toggle File Encryption" and related denial of service methods that target software availability.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2022-39259 involves upgrading to jadx version 1.4.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly handle HTML sequences within zip files. Organizations should implement a comprehensive patch management process to ensure all instances of jadx are updated across their security infrastructure. Security teams should also consider implementing additional input validation measures when processing untrusted zip files, though no workarounds are available for the affected versions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in security tools, particularly those dealing with potentially malicious user-provided data, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for maintaining up-to-date security tooling in enterprise environments.