We use cookies to improve your experience on our site.
AVID-2026-R1013
Description
No protection against rollback attacks in go-tuf (CVE-2022-29173)
Details
go-tuf is a Go implementation of The Update Framework (TUF). go-tuf does not correctly implement the client workflow for updating the metadata files for roles other than the root role. Specifically, checks for rollback attacks are not implemented correctly meaning an attacker can cause clients to install software that is older than the software which the client previously knew to be available, and may include software with known vulnerabilities. In more detail, the client code of go-tuf has several issues in regards to preventing rollback attacks: 1. It does not take into account the content of any previously trusted metadata, if available, before proceeding with updating roles other than the root role (i.e., steps 5.4.3.1 and 5.5.5 of the detailed client workflow). This means that any form of version verification done on the newly-downloaded metadata is made using the default value of zero, which always passes. 2. For both timestamp and snapshot roles, go-tuf saves these metadata files as trusted before verifying if the version of the metafiles they refer to is correct (i.e., steps 5.5.4 and 5.6.4 of the detailed client workflow). A fix is available in version 0.3.0 or newer. No workarounds are known for this issue apart from upgrading.
Reason for inclusion in AVID: CVE-2022-29173 describes a rollback attack vulnerability in go-tuf, a The Update Framework (TUF) client implementation. TUF-based update mechanisms are a common part of software supply chain tooling, and AI deployments often rely on software stacks and update pipelines that could incorporate such libraries. The vulnerability is a legitimate security weakness in a software component that could impact the integrity of AI-related software updates, with a clear description of impact, affected versions, and a fix. Therefore it is relevant to the AI supply chain and warrants curation.
References
- NVD entry
- https://github.com/theupdateframework/go-tuf/security/advisories/GHSA-66x3-6cw3-v5gj
- https://github.com/theupdateframework/go-tuf/commit/ed6788e710fc3093a7ecc2d078bf734c0f200d8d
Affected or Relevant Artifacts
- Developer: theupdateframework
- Deployer: theupdateframework
- Artifact Details:
| Type | Name |
|---|---|
| System | go-tuf |
Impact
AVID Taxonomy Categorization
- Risk domains: Security
- SEP subcategories: S0100: Software Vulnerability
- Lifecycle stages: L06: Deployment
CVSS
| Version | 3.1 |
| Vector String | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Base Score | 8.0 |
| Base Severity | 🔴 High |
| Attack Vector | NETWORK |
| Attack Complexity | 🟢 Low |
| Privileges Required | 🟢 Low |
| User Interaction | REQUIRED |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality Impact | 🔴 High |
| Integrity Impact | 🔴 High |
| Availability Impact | 🔴 High |
CWE
| ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-354 | CWE-354: Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value |
Other information
- Report Type: Advisory
- Credits:
- Date Reported: 2022-05-05
- Version: 0.3.3
- AVID Entry