CVE-2022-23532: Apoc Path Traversal Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2022-23532 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.1) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Apoc libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apoc path traversal vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.3.0.12, 4.4.0.12.
CVE-2022-23532 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 7.1
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:L).
How to Fix CVE-2022-23532
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apoc dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
<dependency>
<groupId>org.neo4j.procedure</groupId>
<artifactId>apoc</artifactId>
<version>4.3.0.12</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.neo4j.procedure</groupId>
<artifactId>apoc</artifactId>
<version>4.4.0.12</version>
</dependency>
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.neo4j.procedure
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2022-23532, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.neo4j.procedure
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apoc in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.3.0.12), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.neo4j.procedure command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where 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. In Apoc, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2022-23532 Affected Apoc Versions
2 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.neo4j.procedure:apoc
|
Maven |
< 4.3.0.12
|
4.3.0.12
|
|
org.neo4j.procedure:apoc
|
Maven |
≥ 4.4.0.0
< 4.4.0.12
|
4.4.0.12
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2022-23532?
Which Apoc versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2022-23532?
Is apoc affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-23532?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-23532?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2022-23532?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-5v8v-gwmw-qw97",
"modified" : "2023-01-24T18:06:35Z",
"published" : "2023-01-13T21:28:46Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-23532" ],
"summary" : "org.neo4j.procedure:apoc Path Traversal Vulnerability",
"details" : "### Impact\nA Path Traversal Vulnerability found in the apoc.export.* procedures of apoc plugins in Neo4j Graph database.\nThe issue allows a malicious actor to potentially break out of the expected directory. The vulnerability is such that files could only be created but not overwritten.\n\nFor the vulnerability to be exploited, an attacker would need access to execute an arbitrary query, either by having access to an authenticated Neo4j client, or a Cypher injection vulnerability in an application. The procedure would need to have been allow listed in the neo4j configuration as well as having the apoc config `apoc.export.file.enabled` set to true. \n\nOn a UNIX based system the following query allows arbitrary write access to the tmp folder:\n\nCALL apoc.export.csv.query('RETURN 1', 'file:///..//..//..//..//tmp/test.txt', {})\n\n### Patches\nThe users should aim to use the latest released version compatible with their Neo4j version. The minimum versions containing patch for this vulnerability are 4.4.0.12 and 4.3.0.12.\n\n### Workarounds\nIf you cannot upgrade the library, you can control the [allowlist of the ](https://neo4j.com/docs/operations-manual/current/reference/configuration-settings/#config_dbms.security.procedures.allowlist)procedures that can be used in your system, and/or turn off local file access by setting apoc.export.file.enabled=false\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Open an issue in [neo4j-apoc-procedures](https://github.com/neo4j-contrib/neo4j-apoc-procedures)\n* Email us at [security@neo4j.com](mailto:security@neo4j.com)\n\n### Credits\nWe want to publicly recognise the contribution Adam Reziouk - Airbus.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:L"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.neo4j.procedure:apoc"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "4.3.0.12"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.neo4j.procedure:apoc"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "4.4.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "4.4.0.12"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/neo4j-contrib/neo4j-apoc-procedures/security/advisories/GHSA-5v8v-gwmw-qw97"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23532"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/neo4j-contrib/neo4j-apoc-procedures/commit/01e63ed2d187cd2a8aa1d78bf831ef0fdd69b522"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/neo4j-contrib/neo4j-apoc-procedures"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2023-01-13T21:28:46Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2023-01-14T01:15:00Z"
}
}