Linux: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CVE-2022-33741 is a high-severity exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.33% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux Kernel to 4.9.322 or 4.14.287 or 4.19.251 or 5.4.204, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on xenbits.xen.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Xen | xen | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Fedora Project | Fedora | 35; 36 | Not stated |
| Debian | Debian Linux | 10.0; 11.0 | Not stated |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 2.6.13 up to, but not including, 4.9.322; 4.14 up to, but not including, 4.14.287; 4.19 up to, but not including, 4.19.251; 5.4 up to, but not including, 5.4.204; 5.10 up to, but not including, 5.10.129; 5.15 up to, but not including, 5.15.53; 5.18 up to, but not including, 5.18.10; 2.6.12; and 1 more ranges | 4.9.322, 4.14.287, 4.19.251, 5.4.204, 5.10.129, 5.15.53 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.1 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 3.6 | Low | NVD |
Official description
Linux disk/nic frontends data leaks T[his CNA information record relates to multiple CVEs; the text explains which aspects/vulnerabilities correspond to which CVE.] Linux Block and Network PV device frontends don't zero memory regions before sharing them with the backend (CVE-2022-26365, CVE-2022-33740). Additionally the granularity of the grant table doesn't allow sharing less than a 4K page, leading to unrelated data residing in the same 4K page as data shared with a backend being accessible by such backend (CVE-2022-33741, CVE-2022-33742).
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
More Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerabilities (CWE-200)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/07/05/6Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
Third-party and government advisories
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/10/msg00000.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5191Third Party Advisory
Other references
Recent Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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