CVE-2022-46405 : What You Need to Know

Mastodon through 4.0.2 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (large Sidekiq pull queue) by creating bot accounts that follow attacker-controlled accounts on certain other servers associated with a wildcard DNS A record, such that there is uncontrolled recursion of attacker-generated messages.

Understanding CVE-2022-46405

This section will cover the details regarding the CVE-2022-46405 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2022-46405?

CVE-2022-46405 involves Mastodon through version 4.0.2, enabling attackers to launch a denial-of-service attack by generating bot accounts to follow specific controlled accounts on servers linked to a wildcard DNS A record.

The Impact of CVE-2022-46405

The vulnerability permits attackers to overload the Sidekiq pull queue, leading to service interruptions and disruptions.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-46405

In this section, we delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2022-46405.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability facilitates a denial-of-service attack by exploiting Mastodon's functionality related to bot accounts and the recursion of attacker-generated messages.

Affected Systems and Versions

All instances using Mastodon up to version 4.0.2 are susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers leverage the creation of bot accounts following controlled accounts on specific servers to trigger uncontrolled recursion of messages, causing a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides guidance on mitigating the risks posed by CVE-2022-46405.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Mastodon to the latest version (beyond 4.0.2)
Regularly monitor server activity for unusual patterns

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict access controls for creating accounts
Conduct regular security audits and assessments of Mastodon instances

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released for Mastodon to address known vulnerabilities.