Strongswan: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
CVE-2022-40617 is a high-severity uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in Strongswan, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 5.9.8 as the first without the flaw, so updating Strongswan to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.99% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 81% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Strongswan to 5.9.8 or a later version.
- Update Stormshield Network Security to 3.11.20 or 4.3.15 or 4.6.0, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongswan | Strongswan | before 5.9.8 | 5.9.8 |
| Canonical | Ubuntu Linux | 14.04; 16.04; 18.04; 20.04; 22.04 | Not stated |
| Debian | Debian Linux | 10.0; 11.0 | Not stated |
| Fedora Project | Fedora | 37 | Not stated |
| Stormshield | Stormshield Network Security | 3.11.1 up to, but not including, 3.11.20; 4.3.1 up to, but not including, 4.3.15; 4.5.1 up to, but not including, 4.6.0 | 3.11.20, 4.3.15, 4.6.0 |
Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
strongSwan before 5.9.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service in the revocation plugin by sending a crafted end-entity (and intermediate CA) certificate that contains a CRL/OCSP URL that points to a server (under the attacker's control) that doesn't properly respond but (for example) just does nothing after the initial TCP handshake, or sends an excessive amount of application data.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Ensure that protocols have specific limits of scale placed on them.
- Ensure that all failures in resource allocation place the system into a safe posture.
More Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerabilities (CWE-400)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in Strongswan
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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