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🛡️ CVE-2022-0778 on Ubuntu — edk2

⚪ Unknown ✅ No Known Exploit OSV
N/A
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

The BN_mod_sqrt() function, which computes a modular square root, contains a bug that can cause it to loop forever for non-prime moduli. Internally this function is used when parsing certificates that contain elliptic curve public keys in compressed form or explicit elliptic curve parameters with a base point encoded in compressed form. It is possible to trigger the infinite loop by crafting a certificate that has invalid explicit curve parameters. Since certificate parsing happens prior to verification of the certificate signature, any process that parses an externally supplied certificate may thus be subject to a denial of service attack. The infinite loop can also be reached when parsing crafted private keys as they can contain explicit elliptic curve parameters. Thus vulnerable situations include: - TLS clients consuming server certificates - TLS servers consuming client certificates - Hosting providers taking certificates or private keys from customers - Certificate authorities parsing certification requests from subscribers - Anything else which parses ASN.1 elliptic curve parameters Also any other applications that use the BN_mod_sqrt() where the attacker can control the parameter values are vulnerable to this DoS issue. In the OpenSSL 1.0.2 version the public key is not parsed during initial parsing of the certificate which makes it slightly harder to trigger the infinite loop. However any operation which requires the public key from the certificate will trigger the infinite loop. In particular the attacker can use a self-signed certificate to trigger the loop during verification of the certificate signature. This issue affects OpenSSL versions 1.0.2, 1.1.1 and 3.0. It was addressed in the releases of 1.1.1n and 3.0.2 on the 15th March 2022. Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.2 (Affected 3.0.0,3.0.1). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1n (Affected 1.1.1-1.1.1m). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.0.2zd (Affected 1.0.2-1.0.2zc).

Distribution advisory

This page covers CVE-2022-0778 as tracked by Ubuntu, for the package edk2. The fix is available in version 2022.02-3ubuntu0.22.04.4; earlier versions remain affected.

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality none, integrity none, availability high.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network — reachable from anywhere that can route to the service.
  • Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
  • Privileges required: None — an unauthenticated stranger can try it.
  • User interaction: None — nobody has to be tricked into anything.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: None.
  • Integrity impact: None.
  • Availability impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.

Weakness class

UBUNTU-CVE-2022-0778 is classified as CWE-835: Infinite Loop. A loop condition can never become false for some inputs, hanging the process.

Affected software

UBUNTU-CVE-2022-0778 is recorded against 4 packages.

  • edk2 (fixed in 2022.02-3ubuntu0.22.04.4)
  • nodejs (fixed in 12.22.9~dfsg-1ubuntu3.1)
  • openssl (fixed in 3.0.2-0ubuntu1)
  • openssl1.0 (fixed in 1.0.2n-1ubuntu5.8)

Timeline and source

Published on 15 March 2022 and last revised on 25 May 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from OSV.

References

ubuntu.com (Report)
www.openssl.org (Report)
ubuntu.com (Advisory)
ubuntu.com (Advisory)
ubuntu.com (Advisory)
www.cve.org (Report)
ubuntu.com (Advisory)

Other advisories for this package

edk2 has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

Same weakness in other software

These advisories are the same class of weakness (CWE-835: Infinite Loop) in other software:

CVE-2022-0778 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity Unknown
CVSS Score N/A
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CWE N/A
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source OSV
Published 2022-03-15
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-05-25
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
edk2 — 2022.02-3ubuntu0.22.04.4
nodejs — 12.22.9~dfsg-1ubuntu3.1
openssl — 3.0.2-0ubuntu1
openssl1.0 — 1.0.2n-1ubuntu5.8

Similar Threats

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