CVE-2022-41904 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Element iOS is an iOS Matrix client provided by Element. Prior to version 1.9.7, events encrypted using Megolm did not display warning shields for untrusted messages, allowing malicious injection into chat rooms. This vulnerability has been patched in Element iOS 1.9.7.

Understanding CVE-2022-41904

Element iOS vulnerability due to missing decoration for events decrypted with untrusted Megolm sessions.

What is CVE-2022-41904?

Element iOS Matrix client did not decorate messages from unverified users with warning shields, enabling potential injection of malicious messages.

The Impact of CVE-2022-41904

A malicious homeserver could inject messages into chat rooms without user alert, compromising data integrity and trust within the environment.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-41904

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-357: Insufficient UI Warning of Dangerous Operations with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4 (Medium).

Vulnerability Description

Events encrypted with Megolm lacking trust validation were not appropriately labeled, enabling unauthorized message injection.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: vector-im
Product: element-ios
Versions Affected: < 1.9.7

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious servers exploit the missing decoration to inject messages into rooms, bypassing user verification checks.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-41904, users must update to Element iOS version 1.9.7 and adhere to secure messaging practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Element iOS to version 1.9.7 to mitigate the risk of message injection and enhance communication security within Matrix ecosystems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Continuously verify sender trust levels and encourage robust encryption practices within chat rooms to prevent unauthorized message injection.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the provided references for patch details and update to the latest version to secure chat communications.