CVE-2022-44641 in Linaro Automated Validation Architecture
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2022
In Linaro Automated Validation Architecture (LAVA) before 2022.11, users with valid credentials can submit crafted XMLRPC requests that cause a recursive XML entity expansion, leading to excessive use of memory on the server and a Denial of Service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-44641 affects the Linaro Automated Validation Architecture (LAVA) platform, specifically impacting versions prior to 2022.11. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables authenticated attackers to exploit recursive XML entity expansion within the XMLRPC processing mechanism of the system. The vulnerability exists within the server-side processing of XMLRPC requests, where the platform fails to properly validate or limit the expansion of XML entities during parsing operations. This flaw allows malicious actors with valid credentials to craft specially formatted XMLRPC requests that trigger exponential memory consumption through recursive entity references, ultimately leading to system resource exhaustion and denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and proper XML parsing controls within the LAVA framework's XMLRPC handler. When a crafted XMLRPC request is submitted, the system processes XML entities without adequate restrictions on entity expansion depth or total size limits. This recursive expansion occurs when XML entities reference other entities that in turn reference additional entities, creating a chain that can grow exponentially with each level of nesting. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes improper restriction of XML external entity expansion as a significant weakness in software applications. The attack vector requires only valid authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by authorized users with legitimate access to the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-44641 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can severely disrupt automated validation workflows that depend on LAVA infrastructure. Organizations utilizing LAVA for continuous integration testing, automated device validation, or embedded system testing face substantial risks when this vulnerability is present. The memory exhaustion caused by recursive entity expansion can lead to complete system crashes, requiring manual intervention and potentially causing extended downtime for critical validation processes. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where LAVA serves as a central component in automated testing pipelines, as the denial of service can cascade through dependent systems and delay software release cycles. The issue also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes network denial of service attacks targeting application availability through resource exhaustion.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-44641 should prioritize immediate patching of affected LAVA installations to version 2022.11 or later, which includes proper XML entity expansion limits and enhanced input validation. Organizations should implement additional defensive measures such as rate limiting for XMLRPC requests, monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns, and restricting XMLRPC access to trusted networks only. The implementation of XML parser configurations that disable external entity resolution and set strict limits on entity expansion depth provides additional layers of protection. Security teams should also consider implementing automated detection mechanisms to identify and block suspicious XMLRPC request patterns that attempt recursive entity expansion. These measures align with security best practices for preventing XML external entity vulnerabilities and maintaining system availability in automated testing environments.