CVE-2022-43495 in OpenHarmony
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2022
OpenHarmony-v3.1.2 and prior versions had a DOS vulnerability in distributedhardware_device_manager when joining a network. Network attakcers can send an abonormal packet when joining a network, cause a nullptr reference and device reboot.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-43495 affects OpenHarmony versions 3.1.2 and earlier, specifically within the distributedhardware_device_manager component. This issue represents a denial of service condition that occurs during network joining operations, creating a significant security risk for IoT and distributed device ecosystems. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms within the device management framework, which governs how devices connect and communicate within distributed networks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves network attackers sending malformed or abnormal packets during the device joining process. These crafted packets trigger a null pointer dereference condition within the distributedhardware_device_manager module, causing the system to crash and subsequently reboot the affected device. This behavior aligns with CWE-476, which addresses null pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how improper validation of network inputs can lead to system instability and service disruption. The vulnerability specifically targets the device manager's handling of network joining protocols, where legitimate device connection requests are processed without adequate sanitization of incoming data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the reliability and availability of distributed device networks, particularly in scenarios where device uptime is critical for business operations. The automatic device reboot caused by this vulnerability can disrupt connected services, potentially leading to data loss, service interruptions, and increased administrative overhead for device recovery and management. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it accessible to attackers without physical access to the devices. This vulnerability directly impacts the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a significant threat to the operational continuity of IoT deployments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms within the distributedhardware_device_manager component to prevent null pointer dereference conditions. System administrators should prioritize updating to patched versions of OpenHarmony that address this vulnerability, while also implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous packet patterns during device joining operations. Additional protective measures include deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block abnormal network traffic, implementing rate limiting for device joining requests, and establishing automated device recovery procedures to minimize service disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and device authentication mechanisms to reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized access to the device management interfaces.