CVE-2022-40281 in TizenRT
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2022
An issue was discovered in Samsung TizenRT through 3.0_GBM (and 3.1_PRE). cyassl_connect_step2 in curl/vtls/cyassl.c has a missing X509_free after SSL_get_peer_certificate, leading to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-40281 affects Samsung TizenRT operating system versions through 3.0_GBM and 3.1_PRE, specifically within the curl library's SSL/TLS implementation. This issue resides in the cyassl_connect_step2 function located in curl/vtls/cyassl.c, representing a critical memory management flaw that can lead to information disclosure. The vulnerability manifests when the SSL_get_peer_certificate function is called without properly freeing the X509 certificate object, creating a memory leak that can be exploited to extract sensitive information from the system.
The technical flaw stems from improper certificate handling within the cyaSSL library integration used by the curl component in TizenRT. When SSL_get_peer_certificate is invoked to retrieve the peer's certificate for validation purposes, the returned X509 certificate object is not properly freed using X509_free. This memory management oversight creates a resource leak where certificate objects remain allocated in memory even after they are no longer needed. The vulnerability is classified as a memory leak under CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper release of memory resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory consumption issues to potentially enable information disclosure attacks. Attackers who can exploit this vulnerability may gain access to sensitive certificate data, including public keys, subject information, and other metadata that could be used for further attacks. The memory leak could accumulate over time, potentially leading to system instability or resource exhaustion that affects the overall security posture of devices running affected TizenRT versions. This issue particularly affects IoT devices and embedded systems where memory resources are constrained and security is paramount.
This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers credentials in files, as the leaked certificate information could contain sensitive authentication data. The memory leak could also facilitate broader information gathering activities that support subsequent attack phases. Organizations using Samsung TizenRT devices should prioritize patching this vulnerability as it represents a fundamental security flaw in the SSL/TLS certificate handling mechanism. The recommended mitigation involves updating to a patched version of TizenRT that properly implements X509_free calls after SSL_get_peer_certificate operations, ensuring that all certificate objects are properly released from memory.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper resource management in cryptographic implementations, particularly in embedded systems where security constraints are tight. Memory leaks in SSL/TLS implementations can have cascading effects on system stability and security, making this issue particularly concerning for IoT deployments. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their TizenRT-based systems to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure that all cryptographic libraries are properly maintained and updated to prevent similar memory management issues from compromising system security.