CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-45059NVD status: Modified

Varnish Cache: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-45059 is a high-severity inconsistent interpretation of HTTP requests vulnerability in Varnish Cache from Varnish Cache Project, 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 7.1.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating Varnish Cache to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.77% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 79% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Varnish Cache to 7.1.2 or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on varnish-cache.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Varnish Cache ProjectVarnish Cache7.0.0 up to, but not including, 7.1.2; 7.2.07.1.2
Fedora ProjectFedora35; 36; 37Not stated

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
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.5HighNVD
CVSS 3.17.5HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

An issue was discovered in Varnish Cache 7.x before 7.1.2 and 7.2.x before 7.2.1. A request smuggling attack can be performed on Varnish Cache servers by requesting that certain headers are made hop-by-hop, preventing the Varnish Cache servers from forwarding critical headers to the backend.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests

The product acts as an intermediary HTTP agent (such as a proxy or firewall) in the data flow between two entities such as a client and server, but it does not interpret malformed HTTP requests or responses in ways that are consistent with how the messages will be processed by those entities that are at the ultimate destination.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a web server that employs a strict HTTP parsing procedure, such as Apache.
  • Terminate the client session after each request.

More Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests vulnerabilities (CWE-444)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Varnish Cache

All Varnish Cache vulnerabilities

Recent Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests vulnerabilities

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