CVE-2022-27772: Build software better, together

Package

maven org.springframework.boot:spring-boot (Maven)

Affected versions

< v2.2.11.RELEASE

Patched versions

v2.2.11.RELEASE

This was originally spotted by @trugPa and communicated here: github/codeql#4473 (comment)

Impact

spring-boot versions prior to version v2.2.11.RELEASE was vulnerable to temporary directory hijacking. This vulnerability impacted the org.springframework.boot.web.server.AbstractConfigurableWebServerFactory.createTempDir method.

The vulnerable method is used to create a work directory for embedded web servers such as Tomcat and Jetty. The directory contains configuration files, JSP/class files, etc. If a local attacker got the permission to write in this directory, they could completely take over the application (ie. local privilege escalation).

Impact Location

This vulnerability impacted the following source location:

/\*\*
 \* Return the absolute temp dir for given web server.
 \* @param prefix server name
 \* @return the temp dir for given server.
 \*/
protected final File createTempDir(String prefix) {
    try {
        File tempDir = File.createTempFile(prefix + ".", "." + getPort());
        tempDir.delete();
        tempDir.mkdir();
        tempDir.deleteOnExit();
        return tempDir;
    }

- https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-boot/blob/ce70e7d768977242a8ea6f93188388f273be5851/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/web/server/AbstractConfigurableWebServerFactory.java#L165-L177

This vulnerability exists because File.mkdir returns false when it fails to create a directory, it does not throw an exception. As such, the following race condition exists:

File tmpDir =File.createTempFile(prefix + ".", “.” + getPort()); // Attacker knows the full path of the file that will be generated // delete the file that was created tmpDir.delete(); // Attacker sees file is deleted and begins a race to create their own directory before Jetty. // and make a directory of the same name // SECURITY VULNERABILITY: Race Condition! - Attacker beats java code and now owns this directory tmpDir.mkdirs(); // This method returns ‘false’ because it was unable to create the directory. No exception is thrown. // Attacker can write any new files to this directory that they wish. // Attacker can read any files created by this process.

Prerequisites

This vulnerability impacts Unix-like systems, and very old versions of Mac OSX and Windows as they all share the system temporary directory between all users.

Patches

This vulnerability was inadvertently fixed as a part of this patch: spring-projects/spring-boot@667ccda

This vulnerability is patched in versions v2.2.11.RELEASE or later.

Workarounds

Setting the java.io.tmpdir system environment variable to a directory that is exclusively owned by the executing user will fix this vulnerability for all operating systems.

CVE ID

CVE-2022-27772

GHSA ID

GHSA-cm59-pr5q-cw85

CWEs

CVSS Score

7.8 High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Credits