CVE-2022-49041 in Drive Client
Summary
by MITRE • 09/26/2024
Buffer copy without checking size of input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') vulnerability in backup task management functionality in Synology Drive Client before 3.4.0-15721 allows local users with administrator privileges to crash the client via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-49041 represents a classic buffer overflow flaw within the Synology Drive Client software ecosystem. This issue specifically affects the backup task management functionality and exists in versions prior to 3.4.0-15721, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on Synology's file synchronization and backup solutions. The flaw manifests as a buffer copy operation that fails to validate the size of incoming input data, allowing malicious actors to potentially exploit this weakness through carefully crafted inputs that exceed the allocated buffer space. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, where insufficient bounds checking enables memory corruption that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it provides local users with administrator privileges the capability to disrupt the normal operation of the Synology Drive Client application. Attackers can leverage this weakness to cause denial of service conditions, potentially affecting critical backup operations and data integrity within enterprise environments that depend on continuous synchronization services. The vulnerability's designation as a local privilege escalation issue means that an attacker must already possess administrative credentials to exploit it, but this access level provides sufficient privileges to cause significant operational disruption. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the attack surface may be broad, potentially encompassing various input fields within the backup task management interface that handle user-defined parameters or configuration settings.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers the use of system shutdown/reboot to disrupt services. The ability to crash the client application represents a direct pathway to service disruption that could affect business continuity, particularly in environments where automated backup schedules are critical for data protection. Organizations utilizing Synology Drive Client for enterprise backup solutions face potential operational risks including data loss exposure, synchronization failures, and disruption of business processes that depend on reliable file synchronization services. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in client-side applications, as the flaw exists in the user-facing backup management component rather than in server-side processes.
The recommended mitigation strategy centers on immediate deployment of the patched version 3.4.0-15721 or later, which addresses the buffer overflow condition through proper input size validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of the Synology Drive Client are updated across their network infrastructure. Security teams should also consider monitoring for potential exploitation attempts through log analysis and network traffic inspection, particularly focusing on unusual patterns in backup task creation or modification activities. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls can limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities by reducing the number of users with administrative privileges who could potentially exploit this flaw. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.