AVID-2026-R1250

Description

Dependency cache path traversal in Gradle (CVE-2023-35946)

Details

Gradle is a build tool with a focus on build automation and support for multi-language development. When Gradle writes a dependency into its dependency cache, it uses the dependency’s coordinates to compute a file location. With specially crafted dependency coordinates, Gradle can be made to write files into an unintended location. The file may be written outside the dependency cache or over another file in the dependency cache. This vulnerability could be used to poison the dependency cache or overwrite important files elsewhere on the filesystem where the Gradle process has write permissions. Exploiting this vulnerability requires an attacker to have control over a dependency repository used by the Gradle build or have the ability to modify the build’s configuration. It is unlikely that this would go unnoticed. A fix has been released in Gradle 7.6.2 and 8.2 to protect against this vulnerability. Gradle will refuse to cache dependencies that have path traversal elements in their dependency coordinates. It is recommended that users upgrade to a patched version. If you are unable to upgrade to Gradle 7.6.2 or 8.2, dependency verification will make this vulnerability more difficult to exploit.

Reason for inclusion in AVID: CVE-2023-35946 describes a path traversal vulnerability in Gradle’s dependency cache that can be exploited to poison or overwrite files during builds. Gradle is a general-purpose build tool widely used to build AI software stacks and ML tooling; the vulnerability affects software supply chains used to build, package, and deploy general-purpose AI systems. It is a security vulnerability with local access requirements, CVSS details provided, and a patch released. Sufficient evidence exists in the report to classify as an AVID vulnerability in the AI software supply chain.

References

• NVD entry
• https://github.com/gradle/gradle/security/advisories/GHSA-2h6c-rv6q-494v
• https://github.com/gradle/gradle/commit/859eae2b2acf751ae7db3c9ffefe275aa5da0d5d
• https://github.com/gradle/gradle/commit/b07e528feb3a5ffa66bdcc358549edd73e4c8a12
• https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/dependency_verification.html
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230731-0003/

Affected or Relevant Artifacts

• Developer: gradle
• Deployer: gradle
• Artifact Details:

Impact

AVID Taxonomy Categorization

• Risk domains: Security
• SEP subcategories: S0100: Software Vulnerability
• Lifecycle stages: L06: Deployment

CVSS

CWE

Other information

• Report Type: Advisory
• Credits:
• Date Reported: 2023-06-30
• Version: 0.3.3
• AVID Entry