CVE-2022-4723 in rdiffweb
Summary
by MITRE • 12/27/2022
Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling in GitHub repository ikus060/rdiffweb prior to 2.5.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4723 represents a critical resource allocation flaw within the rdiffweb repository management system developed by ikus060. This issue affects versions prior to 2.5.5 and stems from the application's failure to implement proper resource limits or throttling mechanisms when handling user requests. The vulnerability manifests in scenarios where the system allocates computational resources without adequate constraints, potentially leading to resource exhaustion and service disruption.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-770, which specifically addresses the allocation of resources without limits or throttling. In the context of rdiffweb, this manifests when the application processes user operations such as backup scheduling, file synchronization, or repository management tasks without imposing reasonable limits on concurrent operations or resource consumption. The system fails to monitor or restrict the amount of memory, CPU cycles, or storage space allocated to individual user sessions or operations, creating an environment where malicious or erroneous inputs can consume excessive system resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security implications that extend beyond simple performance degradation. Attackers could exploit this weakness to launch resource exhaustion attacks against the rdiffweb server, potentially causing denial of service conditions that impact legitimate users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-tenant environments where multiple users share the same infrastructure, as a single malicious user could consume all available resources and prevent other users from accessing the system. The impact is compounded by the fact that the flaw exists at the core resource management layer, making it difficult to detect and mitigate without addressing the underlying architectural issue.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4723 can be analyzed through the lens of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1499 category of Resource Hijacking, where adversaries leverage system resources for their own benefit. In this case, the vulnerability enables unauthorized consumption of system resources, potentially leading to cascading failures that affect the entire backup infrastructure. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that rdiffweb is commonly used for enterprise backup solutions where resource availability directly correlates with business continuity. Organizations relying on this software for critical data protection operations face potential data loss scenarios if the system becomes unavailable due to resource exhaustion attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive resource management controls that align with industry best practices for secure system design. The most effective approach involves upgrading to rdiffweb version 2.5.5 or later, which includes proper resource limits and throttling mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring and alerting systems to detect unusual resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of rate limiting, connection pooling, and resource quotas for individual users or sessions provides defense in depth against similar vulnerabilities. Furthermore, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential resource management flaws in other components of the backup infrastructure, ensuring that the system maintains adequate resilience against resource exhaustion attacks.