CVE-2022-22984 is a command injection vulnerability affecting multiple Snyk packages and plugins, including the core Snyk CLI and various language-specific plugins such as snyk-mvn-plugin, snyk-gradle-plugin, snyk-python-plugin, and others. The root cause is an incomplete fix for a previous vulnerability (CVE-2022-40764), which allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the host system by passing crafted command line flags to the 'snyk test' command. Exploitation requires that the attacker controls the command line arguments passed to the Snyk CLI, which is typically only possible if the attacker already has some level of access or influence over the environment. However, this vulnerability is particularly concerning in automated environments such as continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD) pipelines, where developers or automated processes may pass untrusted or manipulated inputs to the Snyk CLI. In such scenarios, an attacker could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges or move laterally within the build or integration infrastructure. The vulnerability affects versions of the Snyk CLI and plugins prior to 1.1064.0 for the core CLI and respective versions for plugins as listed. The issue has been addressed in updated Snyk Docker images released after November 29, 2022, and in the Snyk TeamCity CI/CD plugin version v20221130.093605 and later. Users running older images or plugin versions remain vulnerable. No known exploits have been reported in the wild to date, but the potential for abuse in CI/CD environments makes this a significant risk that requires prompt remediation.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those heavily reliant on automated DevOps pipelines and CI/CD tools integrating Snyk for security testing. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary command execution on build servers or developer workstations, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of source code, build artifacts, and sensitive environment variables. This could facilitate supply chain attacks, unauthorized access to internal networks, or disruption of software delivery processes. Given the widespread adoption of Snyk in software development and security workflows, organizations using vulnerable versions risk exposure to lateral movement and privilege escalation within their development infrastructure. The impact is amplified in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors prevalent in Europe, where software integrity and compliance are paramount. Furthermore, exploitation in CI/CD pipelines could undermine trust in automated security testing, delaying vulnerability detection and remediation. Although exploitation requires some level of access or control over command line inputs, insider threats or compromised developer accounts could leverage this vulnerability effectively.

1. Immediate update of all Snyk CLI installations and plugins to versions 1.1064.0 or later for the core CLI and the respective patched versions for plugins as specified. 2. Replace all Snyk Docker images with those published after November 29, 2022, ensuring no legacy images remain in use. 3. Upgrade the Snyk TeamCity CI/CD plugin to version v20221130.093605 or newer. 4. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all inputs passed to the Snyk CLI within CI/CD pipelines to prevent injection of malicious command line arguments. 5. Restrict permissions and access controls on build and integration servers to limit who can modify pipeline configurations or invoke Snyk commands. 6. Monitor CI/CD logs and command execution traces for unusual or unexpected command line arguments passed to Snyk. 7. Employ network segmentation and least privilege principles to contain potential compromise resulting from exploitation. 8. Educate developers and DevOps teams about the risks of running security tools on untrusted inputs and the importance of maintaining updated tooling. 9. Consider implementing runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions on build infrastructure to detect anomalous command executions.