CVE-2022-22720: Apache HTTP Server DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2022-22720 Overview

Apache HTTP Server 2.4.52 and earlier contains a vulnerability where the server fails to close inbound connections when errors are encountered while discarding the request body. This improper connection handling exposes the server to HTTP Request Smuggling attacks, allowing malicious actors to potentially bypass security controls, poison web caches, and hijack user sessions.

Critical Impact
This HTTP Request Smuggling vulnerability enables attackers to bypass front-end security controls, access unauthorized resources, and potentially compromise backend systems through desynchronization attacks on connection handling.

Affected Products

Apache HTTP Server versions up to and including 2.4.52
Fedora 34, 35, and 36
Debian Linux 9.0
Oracle Enterprise Manager Ops Center 12.4.0.0
Oracle HTTP Server 12.2.1.3.0 and 12.2.1.4.0
Oracle ZFS Storage Appliance Kit 8.8
Apple macOS and Mac OS X 10.15.7 (various security update versions)

Discovery Timeline

2022-03-14 - CVE-2022-22720 published to NVD
2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-22720

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability (CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests) represents a classic HTTP Request Smuggling flaw stemming from improper connection state management. When Apache HTTP Server encounters an error while discarding a request body, it fails to properly close the inbound connection. This leaves the connection in an inconsistent state where remnants of the malformed request can be interpreted as the beginning of a subsequent request.

HTTP Request Smuggling attacks exploit discrepancies between how front-end and back-end servers interpret HTTP request boundaries. In this case, an attacker can craft a malicious request that causes Apache to misinterpret where one request ends and another begins. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where Apache sits behind a reverse proxy or load balancer, as the desynchronization between systems can lead to request routing confusion.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in Apache HTTP Server's error handling logic when processing request bodies. Under normal operation, when a request includes a body (indicated by Content-Length or Transfer-Encoding headers), the server must fully consume or discard this body before processing the next request on the same connection. When an error occurs during this discard operation, the server should close the connection to prevent any leftover data from being misinterpreted.

However, in vulnerable versions, the connection remains open after such errors. Any unread data from the malformed request body stays in the connection buffer and gets treated as part of the next legitimate request. This creates the smuggling condition where an attacker-controlled payload crosses request boundaries.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-accessible and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted HTTP requests designed to trigger error conditions during body processing while leaving malicious content in the connection stream.

In a typical exploitation scenario, the attacker sends a request with conflicting Content-Length and Transfer-Encoding headers, or a request body that intentionally triggers parsing errors. The remnant data left in the connection can then:

Hijack the next legitimate user's request
Poison web cache entries with malicious content
Bypass access controls by appearing to originate from trusted internal sources
Exfiltrate data by routing responses to attacker-controlled endpoints

The technical details of exploitation involve manipulating HTTP request boundaries through careful crafting of headers and body content that survive the error-handling path.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-22720

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual patterns of HTTP 400 errors followed by successful requests on the same connection
Log entries showing malformed Content-Length or Transfer-Encoding headers
Evidence of cache poisoning or unexpected content in cached responses
Requests appearing to originate from internal addresses when they should be external

Detection Strategies

Monitor Apache access and error logs for requests with conflicting Content-Length and Transfer-Encoding headers
Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block HTTP Request Smuggling patterns
Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for request smuggling techniques
Analyze connection persistence patterns for anomalous behavior during error conditions

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable detailed Apache logging including request body information where feasible
Set up alerts for spikes in HTTP 400-series errors that may indicate exploitation attempts
Monitor for unusual cache behavior or content that doesn't match expected responses
Track connection reuse patterns between front-end proxies and Apache backend servers

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-22720

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Apache HTTP Server to version 2.4.53 or later immediately
Review and apply vendor-specific patches from Oracle, Apple, and Linux distribution maintainers
Audit configurations to ensure proper request body handling and connection management
Temporarily disable connection keep-alive if patching cannot be performed immediately

Patch Information

Apache has addressed this vulnerability in version 2.4.53 and later releases. Organizations should consult the official Apache HTTPD Vulnerabilities List for authoritative patch information.

For downstream vendors:

Oracle has released fixes via the Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2022 and July 2022 updates
Apple has issued patches documented in support articles HT213255, HT213256, and HT213257
Debian, Fedora, and Gentoo have released updated packages through their respective security channels

Workarounds

Disable HTTP keep-alive connections by setting KeepAlive Off in Apache configuration to prevent connection reuse exploitation
Implement strict request validation at the reverse proxy or load balancer layer to normalize requests before they reach Apache
Configure front-end proxies to close connections when errors are detected rather than reusing them
Deploy a web application firewall with HTTP Request Smuggling detection capabilities

bash

# Temporary mitigation: Disable keep-alive connections
# Add to Apache configuration file (httpd.conf or apache2.conf)
KeepAlive Off

# Alternative: Reduce KeepAliveTimeout to minimize exposure window
KeepAlive On
KeepAliveTimeout 2
MaxKeepAliveRequests 50