CVE-2022-24048 is a critical vulnerability in MariaDB's CONNECT storage engine that enables stack-based buffer overflow attacks, allowing local attackers to escalate their privileges on affected installations. Authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. The flaw exists within the processing of SQL queries, and results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data before copying it to a fixed-length stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the service account. This vulnerability was previously identified as ZDI-CAN-16191.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability is present in the MariaDB CONNECT storage engine, specifically in the processing of SQL queries. When an attacker submits a crafted SQL query containing malicious user-supplied data, the lack of proper validation allows this data to overflow a fixed-length stack-based buffer, leading to a buffer overflow attack. Consequently, this compromises the MariaDB system and allows attackers to escalate their privileges.

A simple example of an SQL query that could be used to exploit this vulnerability is as follows

SELECT * FROM mytable WHERE mycolumn='{malicious_payload}'

In this example, malicious_payload should be replaced with a carefully crafted string that triggers the buffer overflow.

Note that this is just a simplified example to illustrate the concept, and a real exploit would likely involve more complex payloads and manipulation.

For more information about the CVE-2022-24048 vulnerability, you can refer to the following sources

1. CVE Details: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-24048
2. NVD (National Vulnerability Database): https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-24048
3. MariaDB Security Announcements: https://mariadb.org/security/
4. Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) Advisory: https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-161/
5. Exploit Database: https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/53537

Update MariaDB to the latest version, as patches have been released to address the vulnerability.

2. Limit the privileges of MariaDB service accounts, making it more difficult for attackers to leverage this vulnerability for privilege escalation.
3. Regularly review and monitor the SQL queries executed on your databases, and implement proper input validation to prevent buffer overflow attacks.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-24048 is a serious vulnerability in the MariaDB CONNECT storage engine that could allow attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code. It is highly recommended to apply the available patches and follow best security practices to minimize the attack surface and protect your MariaDB installations from potential threats.

Timeline

Published on: 02/18/2022 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 06/30/2022 19:42:00 UTC