CVE-2022-35872
Published: 25 July 2022
Summary
CVE-2022-35872 is a high-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in Inductiveautomation Ignition. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 23.3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2022-35872 is a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability (CWE-502) in Inductive Automation Ignition version 8.1.15 (build 2022030114). The flaw resides in the product's ZIP file parsing logic, where insufficient validation of user-supplied data permits deserialization of attacker-controlled content, enabling arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges.
Remote attackers can exploit the issue by supplying a malicious ZIP file that the target must open or that is processed after the target visits a malicious page. Successful exploitation grants code execution in the context of the Ignition process running as SYSTEM, without requiring authentication.
Vendor advisories from Inductive Automation and Zero Day Initiative note that the vulnerability was identified during Pwn2Own 2022 and direct users to apply available updates or mitigations referenced in the support articles at the listed URLs.
EPSS for this CVE rose materially from a low baseline after disclosure to a peak of 0.0621 on 2025-01-22 before receding, indicating increased exploitation interest well after the initial publication.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-38745
Vulnerability details
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Inductive Automation Ignition 8.1.15 (b2022030114). User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.…
more
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of ZIP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in deserialization of untrusted data. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-17115.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Penetration testing supplies malicious serialized objects, detecting unsafe deserialization and supporting corrective actions.
Evaluation of untrusted data handling (deserialization testing) reveals unsafe processing, which the required remediation process addresses.
Untrusted serialized data can be deserialized and observed inside the chamber, blocking gadget-chain exploitation outside the sandbox.
Validates or rejects untrusted serialized data before deserialization occurs.
Identifies and blocks malicious code introduced through deserialization of untrusted data at system boundaries.
Integrity verification of serialized information can detect tampering before deserialization occurs.
Provenance of associated data allows detection of untrusted sources before deserialization or processing occurs.