CVE-2022-39944 is a high-severity remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting Apache Linkis versions up to and including 1.2.0 when used in conjunction with the MySQL Connector/J. Apache Linkis is an open-source data computing middleware platform developed by the Apache Software Foundation, designed to facilitate unified access and management of various data sources and computing engines. The vulnerability arises from unsafe deserialization of data within the JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) URL parameters when a JDBC Execution Context (EC) is configured with a MySQL data source. Specifically, if an attacker has write access to the underlying database, they can inject malicious parameters into the JDBC URL. Due to insufficient input validation and lack of proper parameter blacklisting, these malicious parameters can trigger deserialization of crafted objects, leading to remote code execution on the server hosting Apache Linkis. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data), which is a common vector for RCE attacks in Java-based applications. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and only requires privileges equivalent to a user with write access to the database (PR:L). No user interaction is needed (UI:N), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Exploitation does not require user interaction but does require some level of privilege (write access to the database). The vulnerability affects all Apache Linkis versions up to 1.2.0, and the recommended mitigation is to upgrade to version 1.3.0, where this issue has been addressed by implementing parameter blacklisting in the JDBC URL to prevent malicious deserialization. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date (October 26, 2022), but the severity and nature of the vulnerability warrant immediate attention from users of affected versions.

For European organizations using Apache Linkis, particularly those integrating MySQL databases via JDBC, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely on critical data processing infrastructure, potentially leading to full system compromise. This could result in unauthorized data access, data manipulation, disruption of data workflows, and potential lateral movement within enterprise networks. Organizations in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, healthcare, and government—where data integrity and availability are paramount—could face severe operational and reputational damage. Given that Apache Linkis is used for unified data access and management, a compromise could expose sensitive datasets or disrupt analytics and decision-making processes. The requirement for database write access means that insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged by attackers to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability underscores the criticality of addressing this issue promptly to avoid data breaches or service outages.

1. Immediate upgrade: Organizations should upgrade Apache Linkis to version 1.3.0 or later, where the vulnerability has been fixed by implementing parameter blacklisting in the JDBC URL. 2. Restrict database write access: Limit write permissions on MySQL databases to only trusted and necessary users or services to reduce the risk of malicious parameter injection. 3. Monitor and audit database activity: Implement logging and monitoring of database write operations to detect unusual or unauthorized changes that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Network segmentation: Isolate Apache Linkis servers and databases within secure network zones to limit exposure to untrusted networks and reduce attack surface. 5. Input validation: If upgrading is not immediately possible, implement additional input validation or filtering on JDBC URL parameters at the application or proxy level to block suspicious or malformed inputs. 6. Incident response readiness: Prepare for potential incident response by ensuring backups, forensic capabilities, and patch management processes are in place. 7. Security awareness: Educate administrators and developers about the risks of deserialization vulnerabilities and the importance of secure configuration management.