CVE-2022-40280 in TizenRT
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2022
An issue was discovered in Samsung TizenRT through 3.0_GBM (and 3.1_PRE). createDB in security/provisioning/src/provisioningdatabasemanager.c has a missing sqlite3_close after sqlite3_open_v2, leading to a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-40280 affects Samsung TizenRT operating system versions through 3.0_GBM and 3.1_PRE, representing a critical resource management flaw that can lead to system instability and denial of service conditions. This issue resides within the security provisioning module of the TizenRT framework, specifically in the provisioningdatabasemanager.c source file where the createDB function fails to properly close SQLite database connections after opening them. The problem manifests as a resource leak that occurs when sqlite3_open_v2 is called without the corresponding sqlite3_close function invocation, creating a scenario where database handles remain open indefinitely.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper database connection handling within the provisioning database manager component that manages security-related data for TizenRT devices. When the createDB function executes sqlite3_open_v2 to establish a database connection, it successfully opens the database but fails to call sqlite3_close to release the associated resources. This memory management oversight creates a persistent resource leak that accumulates over time as the provisioning service is invoked repeatedly. The vulnerability represents a classic case of resource leak as classified under CWE-404, where the system fails to release allocated resources properly, leading to gradual degradation of system performance and eventual service unavailability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource consumption issues to potentially compromise the entire device security infrastructure. In embedded systems like TizenRT that operate with limited resources, continuous resource leaks can quickly exhaust available memory and database handles, resulting in complete denial of service conditions where provisioning services become unavailable. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by repeatedly triggering the provisioning database creation process, causing progressive system degradation until the device becomes unresponsive or requires manual reboot. The vulnerability affects the core security provisioning functionality that manages device authentication and authorization data, making it particularly dangerous for IoT and embedded security applications.
This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion, and represents a form of attack that can be executed through legitimate system interfaces. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of proper resource management in embedded systems where memory constraints and long-running processes are common. Organizations deploying TizenRT devices should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions and implement monitoring solutions to detect resource exhaustion patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the need for comprehensive code review processes focusing on resource management and proper database connection handling in security-critical components of embedded operating systems.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of patched TizenRT versions that properly implement sqlite3_close calls following all sqlite3_open_v2 invocations. System administrators should also implement resource monitoring to detect abnormal database handle accumulation and establish automated alerting for provisioning service resource consumption patterns. Additionally, defensive programming practices should be enforced through code review processes that specifically verify proper resource cleanup in all database operations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper resource management in embedded security systems where resource exhaustion can lead to complete system compromise rather than simple performance degradation.