CVE-2022-40138 : Security Advisory and Response

This article provides details about CVE-2022-40138, including its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2022-40138

CVE-2022-40138 is a published vulnerability that involves an integer conversion error in Hermes bytecode generation, potentially allowing out-of-bounds operations and the execution of arbitrary code in scenarios where untrusted JavaScript is executed using Hermes.

What is CVE-2022-40138?

The CVE-2022-40138 vulnerability in Hermes bytecode generation prior to commit 6aa825e480d48127b480b08d13adf70033237097 could be exploited to execute arbitrary code by leveraging integer conversion errors.

The Impact of CVE-2022-40138

The impact of CVE-2022-40138 is significant as it could lead to the execution of arbitrary code, especially in cases where Hermes is used to run untrusted JavaScript. Most React Native applications are not affected due to this specific use case.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-40138

This section delves into the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism related to CVE-2022-40138.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from an integer conversion error in Hermes bytecode generation, enabling potential out-of-bounds operations and the subsequent execution of arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects the Hermes product by Facebook with versions before commit 6aa825e480d48127b480b08d13adf70033237097, where the issue arises due to incorrect numeric type conversions.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation of CVE-2022-40138 involves leveraging the integer conversion error in Hermes bytecode generation to perform out-of-bounds operations and execute arbitrary code.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2022-40138, users are advised to update Hermes to a version beyond commit 6aa825e480d48127b480b08d13adf70033237097 and avoid executing untrusted JavaScript.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, conducting regular security audits, and staying informed about vulnerabilities are crucial for long-term security.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying patches and updates provided by Hermes can help address known vulnerabilities and enhance the overall security posture.