CVE-2022-4450 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2022-4450 article provides detailed insights into the 'Double free after calling PEM_read_bio_ex' vulnerability affecting OpenSSL.

Understanding CVE-2022-4450

This section delves into the essence of the CVE-2022-4450 vulnerability in OpenSSL.

What is CVE-2022-4450?

The vulnerability involves a double-free issue in OpenSSL's function PEM_read_bio_ex(), potentially leading to a denial of service attack by an attacker supplying malicious PEM files.

The Impact of CVE-2022-4450

Exploitation of this vulnerability could result in a crash due to a double-free scenario, posing a significant risk to systems utilizing affected OpenSSL versions.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-4450

This section presents the technical aspects of the CVE-2022-4450 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises in the PEM_read_bio_ex() function, potentially causing a crash when handling 0 bytes of payload data in a PEM file due to a double-free occurrence.

Affected Systems and Versions

OpenSSL versions 3.0.0 and below, as well as 1.1.1 and below (specifically less than 3.0.8 and 1.1.1t), are vulnerable to this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious actors could exploit this vulnerability by providing specially crafted PEM files, triggering the double-free condition and leading to a potential denial of service scenario.

Mitigation and Prevention

Explore the strategies to mitigate the impact of CVE-2022-4450.

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure timely updates to OpenSSL versions 3.0.8 and 1.1.1t to address the double-free vulnerability, thus safeguarding systems against potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Follow stringent security practices such as regular vulnerability assessments, secure coding standards, and threat modeling to enhance overall system security.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the official OpenSSL Advisory for detailed patch information, including version-specific fixes:

OpenSSL Advisory
3.0.8 Git Commit
1.1.1t Git Commit