CVE-2022-44729 in Hyperion Financial Reporting
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2023
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in Apache Software Foundation Apache XML Graphics Batik.This issue affects Apache XML Graphics Batik: 1.16. On version 1.16, a malicious SVG could trigger loading external resources by default, causing resource consumption or in some cases even information disclosure. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 1.17 or later.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2025
The CVE-2022-44729 vulnerability represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw within the Apache XML Graphics Batik library version 1.16. This vulnerability resides in the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) processing component of the Batik toolkit, which is widely used for rendering and manipulating vector graphics within web applications. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of external resource references within SVG files, allowing malicious actors to craft specially crafted SVG documents that can trigger unauthorized network requests from the server processing these graphics. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the Batik library's default configuration behavior, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Batik library processes SVG files containing external resource references such as image tags, script elements, or other network-accessible components. In version 1.16, the library's default settings do not adequately sanitize or restrict these external references, enabling attackers to construct SVG payloads that can access internal network resources, external web services, or even leak sensitive information from the server environment. This behavior aligns with CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery vulnerabilities, and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to perform reconnaissance, exfiltrate data, or potentially escalate privileges by leveraging the server's network access capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-44729 extends beyond simple resource consumption, potentially enabling sophisticated attacks that can compromise entire server environments. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to perform network scans of internal systems that the server can reach, potentially exposing internal services, databases, or other sensitive resources. In certain configurations, the vulnerability could facilitate information disclosure attacks where sensitive data from internal systems becomes accessible to external parties. The resource consumption aspect manifests through excessive network requests that can overwhelm server resources or create denial-of-service conditions, while the information disclosure risk could lead to data breaches or system compromise. Organizations relying on Batik for SVG processing in web applications, content management systems, or document processing pipelines face significant exposure from this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-44729 primarily focus on upgrading to the patched version 1.17 or later of the Apache XML Graphics Batik library, which implements proper resource restriction and validation controls. Organizations should also consider implementing additional defensive measures such as network segmentation, firewall rules to restrict outbound connections from SVG processing servers, and input validation for all SVG content. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing network detection and response capabilities to monitor for unusual outbound network requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all systems using Batik 1.16 or earlier, perform code reviews to identify potential SVG processing pathways, and establish monitoring procedures for unauthorized network access patterns. Organizations may need to temporarily disable SVG processing capabilities or implement strict content filtering until the upgrade is complete, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including user uploads, web services, or automated processing workflows.