Hitachi Vantara Pentaho BA Server Special Element Injection
CVE-2022-43769 is a high-severity improper control of generation of code vulnerability in Pentaho Business Analytics Server from Hitachi Vantara, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 9.3.0.2, 9.4.0.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating Pentaho Business Analytics Server to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on March 3, 2025, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update Pentaho Business Analytics Server to 9.3.0.2 or 9.4.0.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Vantara Pentaho Business Analytics Server to 9.3.0.2 or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- Read the advisory on support.pentaho.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitachi Vantara | Pentaho Business Analytics Server | 1.0 up to, but not including, 9.3.0.2; 9.4.0.0 up to, but not including, 9.4.0.1 | 9.3.0.2, 9.4.0.1 |
| Hitachi | Vantara Pentaho Business Analytics Server | 8.3.0.0 up to, but not including, 9.3.0.2; 9.4.0.0 | 9.3.0.2 |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- 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
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | CNA (hitachivantara.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | NVD |
Official description
Hitachi Vantara Pentaho Business Analytics Server prior to versions 9.4.0.1 and 9.3.0.2, including 8.3.x allow certain web services to set property values which contain Spring templates that are interpreted downstream.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Control of Generation of Code
The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Refactor your program so that you do not have to dynamically generate code.
- Run your code in a jail or similar sandbox environment that enforces strict boundaries between the process and the operating system. This may effectively restrict which code can be executed by your product. Examples include the Unix chroot jail and AppArmor. In general, managed code may provide some protection. This may not be a feasible solution, and it only limits the impact to the operating system; the rest of your application may still be subject to compromise. Be careful to avoid CWE-243 and other weaknesses related to jails.
- Use dynamic tools and techniques that interact with the product using large test suites with many diverse inputs, such as fuzz testing (fuzzing), robustness testing, and fault injection. The product's operation may slow down, but it should not become unstable, crash, or generate incorrect results.
More Improper Control of Generation of Code vulnerabilities (CWE-94)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-43769US Government Resource
Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)
Other vulnerabilities in Pentaho Business Analytics Server
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Improper Control of Generation of Code vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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