CVE-2022-21208 : Security Advisory and Response

A detailed overview of the Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability in the node-opcua package before version 2.74.0.

Understanding CVE-2022-21208

This section provides insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-21208.

What is CVE-2022-21208?

The vulnerability in the node-opcua package, before version 2.74.0, allows attackers to perform a Denial of Service (DoS) attack due to the absence of limitations on received data chunks, potentially leading to service unavailability.

The Impact of CVE-2022-21208

With a CVSS base score of 7.5 (High), the DoS vulnerability poses a significant threat to systems utilizing the affected versions of the node-opcua package, potentially resulting in service disruption.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-21208

Here we delve into the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from the lack of limits on received data chunks per session, enabling malicious actors to flood the system with large chunks, causing a DoS condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts node-opcua versions prior to 2.74.0, leaving systems utilizing these versions susceptible to DoS attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the flaw by sending an unlimited number of massive data chunks (e.g., 2GB each) without transmitting the final closing chunk, leading to unhandled resource consumption and service disruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines immediate steps to take and long-term security practices to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2022-21208.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update the node-opcua package to version 2.74.0 or newer to eliminate the DoS vulnerability and enhance system security.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement network-level protections, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, to detect and block abnormal traffic patterns that may indicate DoS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitor security advisories and apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities like CVE-2022-21208 and strengthen system defenses.