CVE-2022-41591 in HarmonyOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/21/2022
The backup module has a path traversal vulnerability. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability causes unauthorized access to other system files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41591 resides within a backup module component that suffers from a path traversal flaw allowing attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure. This issue manifests when the backup functionality fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that influences file paths during backup operations. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that directly contravenes security best practices for input validation and access control mechanisms. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-22 Path Traversal which is a well-documented weakness where improper input validation allows attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access unauthorized resources. The vulnerability operates by accepting user-controllable parameters that are then used to construct file paths without adequate sanitization, enabling attackers to manipulate the intended file access through directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker provides malicious input that bypasses normal access controls and allows arbitrary file system navigation. The backup module typically handles user requests for file backups and may accept parameters specifying which files or directories should be included in the backup process. When the system fails to properly validate these parameters, an attacker can inject traversal sequences that cause the backup process to access files outside the designated backup scope. This flaw enables unauthorized access to sensitive system files, configuration data, user credentials, and potentially system binaries that should remain protected from casual or malicious access. The operational impact extends beyond simple data exposure as this vulnerability can facilitate further attack vectors including privilege escalation, system compromise, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gather intelligence about the system, access confidential information, or establish persistent access through manipulation of system files.
The security implications of CVE-2022-41591 align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1083 File and Directory Discovery and T1566 Phishing. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to enumerate system resources and access protected files that should only be available to authorized users or system processes. This weakness particularly affects systems where backup functionality is exposed to untrusted users or where insufficient input validation is implemented. The vulnerability is especially concerning in environments where backup systems contain sensitive data or where the backup process runs with elevated privileges. Organizations implementing backup solutions must ensure proper input validation and access control enforcement to prevent exploitation of such path traversal vulnerabilities. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and proper input sanitization that are core security controls recommended by industry standards including NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-41591 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the backup module. Organizations must ensure that all user-controllable parameters are properly validated and that directory traversal sequences are explicitly blocked or neutralized before being used in file system operations. The implementation should include absolute path validation, canonicalization of file paths, and enforcement of strict access controls that prevent access to system directories outside the intended backup scope. Security patches should be applied immediately to address this vulnerability, and system administrators should conduct thorough audits of backup configurations to identify any other potential path traversal issues. Regular security testing including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar weaknesses in backup and file handling components. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege for backup processes, logging all backup operations, and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include code reviews and security testing of all file handling components to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles.