CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-46256NVD status: Modified

GitHub Enterprise Server: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-46256 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in GitHub Enterprise Server from GitHub, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 3.3.17, 3.4.12, 3.5.9 as the first without the flaw, so updating GitHub Enterprise Server to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.09% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 82% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update GitHub Enterprise Server to 3.3.17 or 3.4.12 or 3.5.9 or 3.6.5, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Enterprise Server to 3.3.17 or 3.4.12 or 3.5.9 or 3.6.5, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
GitHubGitHub Enterprise Server3.3 up to, but not including, 3.3.17; 3.4 up to, but not including, 3.4.12; 3.5 up to, but not including, 3.5.9; 3.6 up to, but not including, 3.6.5; 3.7 up to, but not including, 3.7.23.3.17, 3.4.12, 3.5.9, 3.6.5, 3.7.2
GitHubEnterprise Serverbefore 3.3.17; 3.4.0 up to, but not including, 3.4.12; 3.5.0 up to, but not including, 3.5.9; 3.6.0 up to, but not including, 3.6.5; 3.7.0 up to, but not including, 3.7.23.3.17, 3.4.12, 3.5.9, 3.6.5, 3.7.2

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
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
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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.8HighNVD
CVSS 3.18.8HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

A path traversal vulnerability was identified in GitHub Enterprise Server that allowed remote code execution when building a GitHub Pages site. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need permission to create and build a GitHub Pages site on the instance. This vulnerability was fixed in versions 3.3.17, 3.4.12, 3.5.9, 3.6.5 and 3.7.2. This vulnerability was reported via the GitHub Bug Bounty program.

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

The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
  • Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.

More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)

Timeline

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

References

Other vulnerabilities in GitHub Enterprise Server

All GitHub Enterprise Server vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities

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