CVE-2022-26336: Poi scratchpad Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-mqvp-7rrg-9jxc
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CVSS 5.5
CWE-20 CWE-770
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-26336 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.5) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Poi scratchpad libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper input validation and allocation of resources without limits or throttling in poi-scratchpad. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.2.1.

CVE-2022-26336 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-26336
GHSA Identifier GHSA-mqvp-7rrg-9jxc
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.5
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Poi scratchpad
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2022-26336

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Poi scratchpad dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad fixed: 5.2.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.poi</groupId>
    <artifactId>poi-scratchpad</artifactId>
    <version>5.2.1</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.poi

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2022-26336, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.poi

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Poi scratchpad in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.2.1), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.poi 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Poi scratchpad, 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

A shortcoming in the HMEF package of poi-scratchpad (Apache POI) allows an attacker to cause an Out of Memory exception. This package is used to read TNEF files (Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange Server). If an application uses poi-scratchpad to parse TNEF files and the application allows untrusted users to supply them, then a carefully crafted file can cause an Out of Memory exception. This issue affects poi-scratchpad version 5.2.0 and prior versions. Users are recommended to upgrade to poi-scratchpad 5.2.1.

CVE-2022-26336 Affected Poi scratchpad Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.2.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad
maven/org.apache.poi/poi-scratchpad
Maven
≥ 3.8-beta1
< 5.2.1
5.2.1

References

NVD — CVE-2022-26336 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26336
lists.apache.org/thread/sprg0kq986pc... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/sprg0kq986pc2271dc3v2oxb1f9qx09j
Poi scratchpad Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20221028-0006

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-26336?
CVE-2022-26336 is a security vulnerability in Poi scratchpad involving Improper Input Validation and Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling in poi-scratchpad under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Poi scratchpad versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.2.1 across affected packages: org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad.
What version fixes CVE-2022-26336?
Upgrading to 5.2.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is poi-scratchpad affected?
Yes, org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad is affected in releases prior to 5.2.1. Upgrade your dependency to 5.2.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-26336?
CVE-2022-26336 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-26336?
CVE-2022-26336 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2022-26336?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.poi'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-mqvp-7rrg-9jxc",
  "modified" : "2024-05-15T06:54:28Z",
  "published" : "2022-03-05T00:00:44Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-26336" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Input Validation and Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling in poi-scratchpad",
  "details" : "A shortcoming in the HMEF package of poi-scratchpad (Apache POI) allows an attacker to cause an Out of Memory exception. This package is used to read TNEF files (Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange Server). If an application uses poi-scratchpad to parse TNEF files and the application allows untrusted users to supply them, then a carefully crafted file can cause an Out of Memory exception. This issue affects poi-scratchpad version 5.2.0 and prior versions. Users are recommended to upgrade to poi-scratchpad 5.2.1.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.8-beta1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.2.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26336"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/sprg0kq986pc2271dc3v2oxb1f9qx09j"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20221028-0006"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-770" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-03-07T16:12:37Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-03-04T16:15:00Z"
  }
}