CVE-2022-31018 : Security Advisory and Response

Play Framework is a web framework for Java and Scala that has been found to have a denial of service vulnerability in versions 2.8.3 through 2.8.15. This vulnerability affects the forms library in both the Scala and Java APIs when using the

Form#bindFromRequest

method on a JSON request body or the

Form#bind

method directly on a JSON value.

Understanding CVE-2022-31018

This vulnerability can lead to an

OutOfMemoryError

due to the form binding implementation consuming all available heap space if the JSON data being bound to the form contains a deeply-nested JSON object or array.

What is CVE-2022-31018?

The vulnerability in Play Framework allows an attacker to cause a denial of service by crafting a malicious request that consumes excessive heap space, potentially leading to an application crash.

The Impact of CVE-2022-31018

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.5. It can result in a service outage due to the application process crashing when dealing with JSON data containing deeply-nested objects or arrays.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-31018

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises when using

Form#bindFromRequest

or

Form#bind

methods with deeply-nested JSON objects or arrays, leading to an

OutOfMemoryError

and possible application crash. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2.8.16.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected versions of Play Framework include 2.8.3 through 2.8.15. Users of these versions are advised to update to version 2.8.16 to mitigate this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a carefully crafted JSON payload with deeply-nested objects or arrays, causing the application to run out of heap space and crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is crucial to update the Play Framework to version 2.8.16 where the issue has been addressed. Additionally, limiting the depth of JSON objects that can be parsed can help prevent such denial of service attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, developers should be cautious when handling JSON data in their applications, ensuring that appropriate limits and validations are in place to prevent excessive resource consumption.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating to the latest versions of frameworks like Play Framework is essential to stay protected against known vulnerabilities and security threats.