CVE-2022-35022 is a medium severity vulnerability identified in the OTFCC project, specifically linked to a segmentation violation occurring in the binary component /release-x64/otfccdump at the offset 0x6badae. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-787, which corresponds to out-of-bounds write or buffer overflow issues. This type of vulnerability typically arises when a program writes data outside the boundaries of allocated memory, potentially leading to crashes or arbitrary code execution. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H reveals that the attack can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is limited to availability (A:H), meaning the vulnerability can cause denial of service but does not affect confidentiality or integrity. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches or vendor information are provided, which suggests this vulnerability may be in a less widely used or niche tool. The lack of specific product or version details limits precise identification of affected environments. OTFCC (OpenType Font C Compiler) is a tool used in font development and processing, so this vulnerability likely affects systems that process or compile OpenType fonts using this tool or its components.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-35022 is the potential for denial of service (DoS) attacks against systems that utilize the OTFCC toolchain or related font processing utilities incorporating the vulnerable component. This could disrupt workflows in graphic design, publishing, or software development environments that rely on font compilation or manipulation. Although the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, availability disruptions can lead to operational delays and productivity losses. Given that the vulnerability requires user interaction, exploitation might occur through crafted font files delivered via email or other file-sharing mechanisms, posing a risk especially to organizations with high volumes of font assets or those that integrate font compilation in automated pipelines. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity score and ease of remote exploitation without privileges warrant attention. Organizations involved in digital content creation, media, and software development in Europe should assess their use of OTFCC or similar tools to understand exposure.

To mitigate CVE-2022-35022, European organizations should first identify any use of OTFCC or related font compilation tools within their environments. Since no official patches are currently listed, organizations should monitor the OTFCC project repositories and security advisories for updates or patches addressing this segmentation violation. In the interim, restrict the processing of untrusted or unsolicited font files, especially those received via email or external sources, to minimize the risk of triggering the vulnerability. Implement sandboxing or containerization for font processing tasks to isolate potential crashes and prevent broader system impact. Employ strict input validation and scanning of font files using antivirus or specialized file analysis tools to detect malformed or malicious fonts. Additionally, educate users about the risks of opening or processing unknown font files to reduce the likelihood of user interaction-based exploitation. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) can be tuned to monitor for anomalous activity related to font processing utilities. Finally, consider alternative font compilation tools with a stronger security track record if OTFCC usage is not mandatory.