CVE-2022-41828: AWS Redshift JDBC Driver Vulnerability

CVE-2022-41828 Overview

A type confusion vulnerability exists in the Amazon AWS Redshift JDBC Driver (also known as amazon-redshift-jdbc-driver or redshift-jdbc42) in versions prior to 2.1.0.8. The vulnerability stems from the Object Factory's failure to properly validate class types when instantiating objects from class names. This improper type casting (CWE-704) can allow attackers to manipulate object instantiation, potentially leading to remote code execution or other serious security impacts.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit the type confusion in the Object Factory to instantiate arbitrary classes, potentially achieving remote code execution with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

• Amazon AWS Redshift JDBC Driver versions prior to 2.1.0.8
• redshift-jdbc42 package versions before 2.1.0.8
• Applications using vulnerable versions of amazon-redshift-jdbc-driver

Discovery Timeline

• 2022-09-29 - CVE-2022-41828 published to NVD
• 2025-05-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-41828

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as a Type Confusion (CWE-704) issue within the Amazon AWS Redshift JDBC Driver's Object Factory component. The flaw arises because the driver does not adequately verify that the class being instantiated matches the expected type. When the Object Factory receives a class name for instantiation, it proceeds without validating whether the resulting object is of the correct type, creating an opportunity for attackers to supply malicious class names that could lead to unintended code execution paths.

The network-based attack vector means this vulnerability can be exploited remotely, though exploitation requires certain conditions to be met, including the ability to influence the class name parameter passed to the Object Factory.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2022-41828 lies in the Object Factory's implementation within the Redshift JDBC driver. The factory pattern implementation lacks type checking validation before object instantiation. When a class name is provided for instantiation, the code creates an instance without verifying that the instantiated object conforms to the expected type hierarchy. This omission allows an attacker to specify arbitrary class names that the JVM can instantiate, potentially loading and executing code from unexpected classes.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication or user interaction. An attacker who can influence the class name parameter supplied to the Object Factory can potentially:

1. Specify malicious class names that exist in the application's classpath
2. Trigger instantiation of classes with dangerous constructors or static initializers
3. Chain this with other classes to achieve remote code execution

The vulnerability exists in the JDBC driver's connection handling, where improperly validated class names could be exploited during database connection establishment or query processing.

     <artifactId>redshift-jdbc42</artifactId>
     <packaging>bundle</packaging>
     <name>Redshift JDBC Driver - JDBC 4.2</name>
-    <version>2.1.0.7</version>
+    <version>2.1.0.8</version>

     <description>Java JDBC 4.2 (JRE 8+) driver for Redshift database</description>

Source: GitHub Commit

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-41828

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual JDBC connection strings containing unexpected class names
• Application logs showing instantiation errors or unexpected class loading events
• Network traffic containing manipulated JDBC connection parameters targeting Redshift endpoints
• Exception stack traces revealing Object Factory instantiation failures with non-standard classes

Detection Strategies

• Implement application-level logging to capture all class instantiation events within JDBC driver components
• Monitor for anomalous connection string patterns in database connection logs
• Deploy runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect type confusion attempts
• Use static code analysis to identify usage of vulnerable Redshift JDBC driver versions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for Redshift JDBC driver connections to capture connection parameter details
• Set up alerts for Java ClassNotFoundException or ClassCastException errors originating from JDBC components
• Monitor application dependency inventories for outdated redshift-jdbc42 packages
• Implement network-level monitoring for unusual patterns in database connection traffic

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-41828

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade the Amazon AWS Redshift JDBC Driver to version 2.1.0.8 or later immediately
• Audit all applications using the Redshift JDBC driver to identify vulnerable versions
• Review application logs for any signs of exploitation attempts prior to patching
• Implement input validation on any user-controlled parameters that may reach JDBC connection handling

Patch Information

Amazon has released version 2.1.0.8 of the Redshift JDBC Driver which addresses this type confusion vulnerability. The fix implements proper type checking in the Object Factory before object instantiation. The patch is available through the AWS GitHub repository. Organizations should update their Maven/Gradle dependencies or download the patched JAR file directly. For detailed security information, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to systems running vulnerable JDBC driver versions until patching is complete
• Implement application firewalls or WAF rules to filter suspicious JDBC connection parameters
• Run applications using the vulnerable driver with minimal privileges to limit exploitation impact
• Consider temporarily using alternative database connectivity methods if immediate patching is not feasible

# Maven dependency update example
# Update pom.xml to use patched version
mvn versions:use-latest-versions -Dincludes=com.amazon.redshift:redshift-jdbc42

# Verify the installed version
mvn dependency:tree | grep redshift-jdbc
# Should show version 2.1.0.8 or higher