CVE-2022-46256 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A path traversal vulnerability in GitHub Enterprise Server allowed remote code execution in GitHub Pages, impacting versions 3.3.17, 3.4.12, 3.5.9, 3.6.5, and 3.7.2. An attacker with GitHub Pages site creation permission could exploit this vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2022-46256

This CVE discusses the path traversal vulnerability in GitHub Enterprise Server that led to remote code execution in GitHub Pages.

What is CVE-2022-46256?

CVE-2022-46256 is a path traversal vulnerability identified in GitHub Enterprise Server, which enabled remote code execution during the GitHub Pages site building process.

The Impact of CVE-2022-46256

The vulnerability affected GitHub Enterprise Server versions 3.3.17, 3.4.12, 3.5.9, 3.6.5, and 3.7.2, exposing instances to the risk of unauthorized code execution when building GitHub Pages.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-46256

This section delves deeper into the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The path traversal flaw permitted threat actors to execute arbitrary code if they could build a GitHub Pages site, necessitating instance access.

Affected Systems and Versions

GitHub Enterprise Server versions 3.3.17, 3.4.12, 3.5.9, 3.6.5, and 3.7.2 were vulnerable to this path traversal issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2022-46256, an attacker needed legitimate GitHub Pages creation and building rights on the GitHub Enterprise Server instance.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the immediate actions to take to secure your systems against this vulnerability, highlighting long-term security practices and patching operations.

Immediate Steps to Take

Following the remediation of this vulnerability, it is advised to restrict GitHub Pages creation permissions and sanitize user inputs to prevent path traversal.

Long-Term Security Practices

Establish stringent access controls, educate users on secure coding practices, and maintain up-to-date security configurations to enhance system resilience.

Patching and Updates

GitHub promptly addressed this vulnerability in versions 3.3.17, 3.4.12, 3.5.9, 3.6.5, and 3.7.2; hence, users are urged to update to the patched versions to mitigate risks effectively.