CVE-2022-46163 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in the travel-support-program application for openSUSE has been identified, allowing for data exfiltration via Ransack query injection.

Understanding CVE-2022-46163

This CVE highlights a critical flaw in the travel-support-program, potentially exposing sensitive user information.

What is CVE-2022-46163?

The travel-support-program, a rails app for openSUSE's travel support program, is susceptible to data exfiltration through Ransack query injection. The vulnerability allows unauthorized actors to access sensitive data like bank account details and password hashes.

The Impact of CVE-2022-46163

This vulnerability poses a high severity risk, with a base score of 7.5 (CVSS:3.1). It can lead to the exposure of confidential user information, posing a threat to data privacy and security.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-46163

The following technical details outline the specifics of the vulnerability:

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from the utilization of the Ransack library in the travel-support-program, enabling attackers to conduct query conditions that result in the extraction of sensitive string values from associated database objects.

Affected Systems and Versions

All deployments of travel-support-program below the patched version (commit d22916275c51500b4004933ff1b0a69bc807b2b7) are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can leverage the

*_start

,

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, or

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search matchers within Ransack to exfiltrate sensitive data through character-by-character brute-forcing methods, enabling the extraction of information like bank account numbers and password hashes with a relatively low number of requests.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-46163, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the patched version (commit d22916275c51500b4004933ff1b0a69bc807b2b7) of travel-support-program.
Implement access controls and input validation to prevent malicious queries.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and update dependencies to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
Conduct security training for developers to enhance awareness of secure coding practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and ensure timely application of patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.