Authentication bypass via unchecked LZ4 output length
Published Sep 15, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025
Uninitialized memory use in ScyllaDB before 4.6.7 and 5.0.0 through 5.0.2 allows remote attackers to bypass CQL authentication. During LZ4 CQL frame decompression, cql_server::connection::read_and_decompress_frame trusts the declared output length and returns the allocated buffer size when the decoder writes fewer bytes, leaving the remainder uninitialized. Unauthenticated exploitation requires CQL-port access plus concurrent legitimate LZ4 clients; authenticated users can expose passwords or query fragments from reused memory.
Summary
What happened
Uninitialized memory use in ScyllaDB before 4.6.7 and 5.0.0 through 5.0.2 allows remote attackers to bypass CQL authentication. During LZ4 CQL frame decompression, cql_server::connection::read_and_decompress_frame trusts the declared output length and returns the allocated buffer size when the decoder writes fewer bytes, leaving the remainder uninitialized. Unauthenticated exploitation requires CQL-port access plus concurrent legitimate LZ4 clients; authenticated users can expose passwords or query fragments from reused memory.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-29240
- Published
- Sep 15, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 23, 2025
- Vendor
- ScyllaDB
- Product
- ScyllaDB
- Classifications
- CWE-908, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 15, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 23, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=< 4.6.7
- Affected versionversion=>= 5.0.0, < 5.0.3
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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