CVE-2022-39259 is a vulnerability identified in the skylot jadx tool, which is widely used for decompiling Android Dex and APK files into Java source code. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation (CWE-20) in versions of jadx prior to 1.4.5. Specifically, when jadx processes zip files containing HTML sequences, it can trigger a Denial of Service (DoS) condition. This occurs because the tool does not adequately sanitize or validate the input data embedded within these zip archives, leading to unexpected behavior or crashes during the decompilation process. The issue has been addressed and patched in version 1.4.5 of jadx. No known workarounds exist for vulnerable versions, and there are no reports of active exploitation in the wild. The vulnerability primarily affects the availability of the jadx tool during its operation, potentially disrupting reverse engineering or security analysis workflows that rely on jadx for inspecting Android applications.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is mainly operational rather than directly compromising confidentiality or integrity. Organizations involved in mobile security research, malware analysis, or application auditing that use jadx for reverse engineering Android applications could experience interruptions or failures in their analysis processes if they use vulnerable versions. This could delay incident response, malware investigation, or security assessments. While the DoS does not lead to code execution or data breaches, the disruption of tooling can indirectly affect security posture by hindering timely analysis. Sectors such as cybersecurity firms, mobile app developers, and governmental agencies involved in digital forensics or threat intelligence in Europe may be particularly affected. However, since exploitation requires specially crafted zip files and is limited to the tool’s operation, the broader enterprise impact is limited.

1. Immediate upgrade to jadx version 1.4.5 or later is the most effective mitigation to eliminate the vulnerability. 2. Implement strict input validation and scanning of zip files before processing them with jadx to detect and block suspicious HTML sequences or malformed archives. 3. Use sandboxed or isolated environments when running jadx to contain potential crashes and prevent disruption to critical systems. 4. Incorporate automated testing of jadx with a variety of zip inputs to detect anomalous behavior early. 5. For organizations relying heavily on jadx, maintain backup analysis tools or alternative decompilers to ensure continuity in case of tool failure. 6. Monitor vendor advisories and community forums for any emerging exploit reports or patches related to jadx.