CVE-2022-24773 is a vulnerability identified in the 'forge' library (also known as 'node-forge'), a JavaScript implementation of Transport Layer Security (TLS). The affected versions are those prior to 1.3.0. The vulnerability arises from improper verification of RSA PKCS#1 v1.5 signatures, specifically in the handling of the DigestInfo ASN.1 structure during signature verification. The DigestInfo is a critical component that encapsulates the hash algorithm identifier and the hash value itself. In vulnerable versions, the verification process does not correctly validate the ASN.1 structure of DigestInfo, allowing signatures with malformed DigestInfo but containing a valid digest to be accepted as valid. This flaw undermines the cryptographic assurance that a signature is authentic and unaltered, potentially enabling attackers to bypass signature verification checks. The issue was addressed in version 1.3.0 of node-forge, which introduced proper ASN.1 structure validation for DigestInfo during RSA signature verification. There are currently no known workarounds for this vulnerability, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. This vulnerability falls under CWE-347, which pertains to improper verification of cryptographic signatures, a critical aspect of secure communications and data integrity. Given that node-forge is widely used in JavaScript applications for cryptographic operations, this vulnerability could affect any system or service relying on the affected versions for signature verification, including web applications, APIs, and other software components that implement TLS or cryptographic signature validation using node-forge.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-24773 can be significant depending on their reliance on node-forge for cryptographic operations. The improper verification of RSA signatures can lead to acceptance of forged or tampered signatures, undermining the integrity and authenticity of communications and data. This could facilitate man-in-the-middle attacks, unauthorized code execution, or acceptance of malicious updates or credentials. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that depend on secure TLS communications and cryptographic validation are particularly at risk. The vulnerability could compromise secure communications, data integrity, and trust in digital signatures, potentially leading to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. Since no known exploits are currently reported, the risk is somewhat mitigated, but the presence of vulnerable versions in production environments still poses a latent threat. The lack of workarounds means organizations must prioritize patching to remediate the vulnerability. The impact is compounded in environments where node-forge is embedded in critical applications or services that handle sensitive or regulated data.

1. Immediate upgrade: Organizations should promptly upgrade node-forge to version 1.3.0 or later to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Dependency audit: Conduct a thorough audit of all applications and services to identify usage of node-forge, including transitive dependencies, to ensure no vulnerable versions remain in the software supply chain. 3. Code review: Review cryptographic signature verification implementations to confirm they rely on updated and secure libraries. 4. Implement defense-in-depth: Where feasible, add additional signature verification layers or use alternative cryptographic libraries with robust verification to reduce reliance on a single library. 5. Monitor for suspicious activity: Enhance monitoring for anomalies in signature verification failures or unexpected authentication events that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Vendor engagement: Engage with software vendors and third-party providers to confirm they have addressed this vulnerability in their products. 7. Incident response preparedness: Update incident response plans to include scenarios involving cryptographic signature bypasses and ensure readiness to respond to potential exploitation. 8. Avoid reliance on user interaction: Since exploitation does not require user interaction, ensure automated systems are protected and updated accordingly.