CVE-2022-4203: Openssl src Openssl-src Contains Read Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w67w-mw4j-8qrv
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CVSS 9.1
CWE-125
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-4203 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.1) openssl-src contains read buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read) affecting Openssl src libraries in the crates.io ecosystem. The issue involves openssl-src contains read buffer overflow in x.509 name constraint. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 300.0.12.

CVE-2022-4203 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-4203
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w67w-mw4j-8qrv
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.1
CWE Classification CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read
Affected Product Openssl src
Package Ecosystem crates.io
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.1

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2022-4203

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

openssl-src fixed: 300.0.12 
Upgrade openssl-src to 300.0.12
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

inspect dependencies for openssl-src

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2022-4203, inspect your project dependencies for Openssl src:

inspect dependencies for openssl-src

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Openssl src in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 300.0.12), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, where the product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. In Openssl src, 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 read buffer overrun can be triggered in X.509 certificate verification, specifically in name constraint checking. Note that this occurs after certificate chain signature verification and requires either a CA to have signed the malicious certificate or for the application to continue certificate verification despite failure to construct a path to a trusted issuer. The read buffer overrun might result in a crash which could lead to a denial of service attack. In theory it could also result in the disclosure of private memory contents (such as private keys, or sensitive plaintext) although we are not aware of any working exploit leading to memory contents disclosure as of the time of release of this advisory. In a TLS client, this can be triggered by connecting to a malicious server. In a TLS server, this can be triggered if the server requests client authentication and a malicious client connects.

CVE-2022-4203 Affected Openssl src Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
300.0.12
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openssl-src
 crates.io
≥ 300.0.0
< 300.0.12
300.0.12

References

NVD — CVE-2022-4203 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-4203
git.openssl.org/gitweb/ WEB
https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git;a=commitdiff;h=c927a3492698c254637da836762f9b1f86cffabc
psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/snwlid-... WEB
https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2023-0003
rustsec.org/advisories/rustsec-... WEB
https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2023-0008.html
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202402-08
www.openssl.org/news/secadv/2023020... WEB
https://www.openssl.org/news/secadv/20230207.txt

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-4203?
CVE-2022-4203 is a security vulnerability in Openssl src involving openssl-src contains Read Buffer Overflow in X.509 Name Constraint under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read.
Which Openssl src versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 300.0.12 across affected packages: openssl-src.
What version fixes CVE-2022-4203?
Upgrading to 300.0.12 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openssl-src affected?
Yes, openssl-src is affected in releases prior to 300.0.12. Upgrade your dependency to 300.0.12 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-4203?
CVE-2022-4203 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.1 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-4203?
CVE-2022-4203 is classified under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read (The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.).
How can I check crates.io dependencies for CVE-2022-4203?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for openssl-src'. 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-w67w-mw4j-8qrv",
  "modified" : "2025-11-04T22:09:13Z",
  "published" : "2023-02-08T22:27:42Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-4203" ],
  "summary" : "openssl-src contains Read Buffer Overflow in X.509 Name Constraint",
  "details" : "A read buffer overrun can be triggered in X.509 certificate verification, specifically in name constraint checking. Note that this occurs\nafter certificate chain signature verification and requires either a CA to have signed the malicious certificate or for the application to\ncontinue certificate verification despite failure to construct a path to a trusted issuer.\n\nThe read buffer overrun might result in a crash which could lead to a denial of service attack. In theory it could also result in the disclosure of private memory contents (such as private keys, or sensitive plaintext) although we are not aware of any working exploit leading to memory contents disclosure as of the time of release of this advisory.\n\nIn a TLS client, this can be triggered by connecting to a malicious server. In a TLS server, this can be triggered if the server requests client authentication and a malicious client connects.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "crates.io",
      "name" : "openssl-src"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "300.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "300.0.12"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-4203"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git;a=commitdiff;h=c927a3492698c254637da836762f9b1f86cffabc"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2023-0003"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2023-0008.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202402-08"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openssl.org/news/secadv/20230207.txt"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-125" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-02-08T22:27:42Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-02-24T15:15:00Z"
  }
}