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CVE-2022-44052: n/a in n/a

Critical
VulnerabilityCVE-2022-44052cvecve-2022-44052
Published: Mon Nov 07 2022 (11/07/2022, 00:00:00 UTC)
Source: CVE
Vendor/Project: n/a
Product: n/a

Description

The d8s-dates for python, as distributed on PyPI, included a potential code-execution backdoor inserted by a third party. A potential code execution backdoor inserted by third parties is the democritus-timezones package. The affected version of d8s-htm is 0.1.0.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/03/2025, 09:28:31 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2022-44052 is a critical security vulnerability involving a malicious code-execution backdoor inserted into Python packages distributed via the PyPI repository. Specifically, the packages named d8s-dates and democritus-timezones, as well as d8s-htm version 0.1.0, were found to contain code that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a victim's system. This backdoor was introduced by a third party, indicating a supply chain compromise where attackers uploaded tampered packages to PyPI, a widely used Python package index. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-434, which relates to untrusted file upload or inclusion leading to code execution. The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.8 (critical), reflecting that the exploit requires no privileges, no user interaction, and can be executed remotely over the network, resulting in full confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the potential for severe impact is high due to the nature of the vulnerability and the popularity of Python packages in development and production environments. The lack of vendor or product specificity suggests this is a supply chain issue affecting any environment that installs these compromised packages. The vulnerability was published on November 7, 2022, and has been enriched by CISA, indicating recognition by US cybersecurity authorities. No patches or remediation links are currently provided, emphasizing the need for users to manually verify package integrity and provenance.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant. Many enterprises, research institutions, and government agencies in Europe rely heavily on Python for software development, data analysis, automation, and web services. If these compromised packages are installed in development or production environments, attackers could gain remote code execution capabilities, leading to data breaches, system takeovers, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within networks. The integrity of software supply chains is critical, and this vulnerability undermines trust in open-source package repositories. Organizations using these packages in critical infrastructure, financial services, healthcare, or public administration could face operational disruptions and regulatory consequences under GDPR due to potential data loss or exposure. The absence of known exploits in the wild does not reduce the risk, as attackers may weaponize this vulnerability in targeted attacks or automated campaigns. Additionally, the vulnerability's ease of exploitation (no authentication or user interaction required) increases the threat level for European entities that automatically deploy or update Python packages without strict verification controls.

Mitigation Recommendations

European organizations should immediately audit their Python environments to identify installations of d8s-dates, democritus-timezones, and d8s-htm version 0.1.0. They should remove or replace these packages with verified clean versions or alternative libraries. Implement strict supply chain security practices such as verifying package signatures, using trusted internal mirrors or repositories, and employing tools like pip's hash-checking mode to ensure package integrity. Organizations should also monitor PyPI and related security advisories for updates or patches addressing this vulnerability. Incorporating Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools into CI/CD pipelines can help detect usage of vulnerable packages early. Network-level protections such as restricting outbound connections from build and runtime environments can limit attacker command and control capabilities if exploitation occurs. Finally, educating developers and DevOps teams about the risks of unvetted third-party packages and enforcing policies to approve dependencies before use will reduce exposure to similar supply chain threats.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
mitre
Date Reserved
2022-10-30T00:00:00.000Z
Cisa Enriched
true
Cvss Version
3.1
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 682d981dc4522896dcbdafcb

Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:08:45 AM

Last enriched: 7/3/2025, 9:28:31 AM

Last updated: 8/9/2025, 2:53:36 AM

Views: 14

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