CVE-2022-45771
Published: 05 December 2022
Summary
CVE-2022-45771 is a high-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Pwndoc Project Pwndoc. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 3.2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2022-45771 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability (CWE-434) affecting the /api/audits component in Pwndoc version 0.5.3. The flaw permits an authenticated user to upload a specially crafted audit file that leads to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution on the server, reflected in its CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8.
An attacker with low-privileged network access and no user interaction required can exploit the issue by submitting the malicious file through the audits API endpoint, resulting in full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected instance.
Public references consist of the project repository and GitHub issue 401, which document the problem but do not detail specific patches or mitigation steps in the provided sources. The EPSS score rose from a low baseline to a peak of 0.5070 on 2025-12-11 before receding to the current value of 0.3018, indicating that exploitation interest increased well after the 2022 disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-48629
Vulnerability details
An issue in the /api/audits component of Pwndoc v0.5.3 allows attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code via uploading a crafted audit file.
- 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.
Requiring identifiable owners for portable devices reduces the attack surface for unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types via anonymous media.
Dangerous file uploads can be detonated in the chamber to determine malice before any production write or execution occurs.
Prevents unrestricted writing of arbitrary or malicious firmware by keeping hardware write-protect enabled except under tightly controlled manual procedures.
Scans files from external sources on download/open/execute, blocking unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types.