CVE-2022-46908Public exploit

Host file access via safe-mode UDF bypass

Published Dec 12, 2022 · Updated May 5, 2025

Improper access control in the SQLite CLI 3.37.0 through 3.40.0 allows local users to read or write host files via an untrusted script. The --safe-mode authorizer callback fails to reject readfile() and writefile() against its prohibited-function list, so those UDFs execute with the CLI process's file permissions. Exposure requires the command-line shell, an untrusted CLI script, and reliance on --safe; the core SQLite library and CLI use without --safe are unaffected.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in the SQLite CLI 3.37.0 through 3.40.0 allows local users to read or write host files via an untrusted script. The --safe-mode authorizer callback fails to reject readfile() and writefile() against its prohibited-function list, so those UDFs execute with the CLI process's file permissions. Exposure requires the command-line shell, an untrusted CLI script, and reliance on --safe; the core SQLite library and CLI use without --safe are unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-46908
Published
Dec 12, 2022
Updated
May 5, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 12, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 5, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
7.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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