CVE-2022-40284 in NTFS-3G
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2022
A buffer overflow was discovered in NTFS-3G before 2022.10.3. Crafted metadata in an NTFS image can cause code execution. A local attacker can exploit this if the ntfs-3g binary is setuid root. A physically proximate attacker can exploit this if NTFS-3G software is configured to execute upon attachment of an external storage device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-40284 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the NTFS-3G driver, a widely used open-source implementation for NTFS file system support on Linux systems. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 2022.10.3 and stems from inadequate input validation when processing crafted metadata within NTFS images. The flaw exists in the way the software handles file system structures and metadata parsing, creating a condition where maliciously constructed data can overflow allocated memory buffers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning due to its potential for privilege escalation and remote code execution when exploited properly.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of NTFS metadata structures, specifically when the NTFS-3G driver encounters malformed or specially crafted data within file system headers or directory entries. When the driver processes these malicious structures, it fails to properly bounds-check the data before copying it into fixed-size buffers, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical program memory locations. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The flaw is exacerbated by the fact that the ntfs-3g binary operates with elevated privileges when setuid root, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous for system integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond traditional network-based attacks to include local privilege escalation scenarios and physical proximity exploits. When the ntfs-3g binary executes with root privileges due to setuid permissions, a local attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges, effectively compromising the entire system. Additionally, the vulnerability can be exploited by physically proximate attackers who have access to external storage devices that are configured to automatically mount using NTFS-3G. This creates a significant attack surface for social engineering and physical security breaches, as simply connecting a maliciously crafted NTFS-formatted device can trigger the exploit. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-40284 primarily focus on immediate software updates to version 2022.10.3 or later, which contain proper bounds checking and input validation fixes. System administrators should also implement the principle of least privilege by removing setuid permissions from ntfs-3g binaries where possible, though this may impact functionality. Additional protective measures include disabling automatic mounting of external storage devices, implementing proper file system validation before mounting, and monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and endpoint detection systems should be configured to detect potential exploitation attempts involving NTFS file system operations. Organizations should also consider implementing device whitelisting policies for external storage devices and maintaining up-to-date security patches for all file system drivers to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.