CVE-2022-41972 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Discover the impact of CVE-2022-41972 on Contiki-NG IoT devices. Learn about the NULL Pointer Dereference issue in the BLE L2CAP module and how to secure affected systems.
Contiki-NG is an open-source operating system for IoT devices. This CVE highlights a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in the BLE L2CAP module of Contiki-NG versions <= 4.8.
Understanding CVE-2022-41972
This CVE identifies a security issue in Contiki-NG's Bluetooth Low Energy stack that could be exploited by an attacker.
What is CVE-2022-41972?
Contiki-NG versions prior to 4.9 are affected by a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in the BLE L2CAP module. An attacker can manipulate the Bluetooth stack to trigger undefined behavior by dereferencing a NULL pointer.
The Impact of CVE-2022-41972
The vulnerability allows an attacker to inject a packet, leading to a pointer dereference operation. This can result in a denial of service or potentially arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2022-41972
This section covers detailed technical information about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
In Contiki-NG's BLE L2CAP module, a flaw exists in handling channel metadata, leading to a NULL pointer dereference when processing certain packets.
Affected Systems and Versions
Contiki-NG versions <= 4.8 are impacted by this vulnerability, exposing devices running these versions to potential exploitation.
Exploitation Mechanism
By injecting a packet into the Bluetooth Low Energy stack, an attacker can exploit the NULL Pointer Dereference issue to disrupt device operation and potentially gain unauthorized access.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn about the steps to secure and protect systems from CVE-2022-41972.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to apply the patch available in Contiki-NG pull request #2253 as a temporary solution until the release of version 4.9.
Long-Term Security Practices
Enhance IoT security by regularly updating software, implementing network segmentation, and monitoring for unusual activities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure systems are updated to Contiki-NG version 4.9 to mitigate the vulnerability and protect against potential exploitation.