CVE-2022-45932 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability identified in the AAA component of OpenDaylight (ODL) versions prior to 0.16.5. OpenDaylight is an open-source platform widely used for software-defined networking (SDN) solutions. The vulnerability resides specifically in the deleteRole function within the RoleStore.java file of the aaa-idm-store-h2 module. This function is invoked through the API endpoint /auth/v1/roles/. The flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to inject malicious SQL commands due to insufficient input validation or sanitization in the API handling code. Exploiting this vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction, and it can be triggered remotely over the network (AV:N, PR:N, UI:N). The impact of a successful exploit is high on the integrity of the system (I:H), as attackers can manipulate or delete role data within the AAA datastore, potentially altering access controls or user permissions. However, confidentiality and availability impacts are not indicated (C:N, A:N). The vulnerability is rated with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, reflecting its ease of exploitation and significant impact on system integrity. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the published date (November 27, 2022). No official patches or vendor advisories are linked, but upgrading to OpenDaylight version 0.16.5 or later is implied as a remediation step. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which corresponds to SQL Injection, a common and critical web application security flaw. Given OpenDaylight's role in managing network infrastructure, compromising its AAA module could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation or disruption of network policy enforcement.

For European organizations, particularly those deploying OpenDaylight as part of their SDN infrastructure, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the integrity of network access controls. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate role assignments, potentially granting unauthorized access or disrupting network segmentation and security policies. This could lead to lateral movement within networks, exposure of sensitive internal resources, or undermining of compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. Critical infrastructure operators, telecommunications providers, and large enterprises relying on OpenDaylight for network orchestration are especially at risk. The lack of required authentication and user interaction lowers the barrier for attackers, increasing the likelihood of exploitation if vulnerable instances are exposed to untrusted networks. Although no known exploits are currently reported, the public disclosure and high CVSS score suggest that threat actors may develop exploits, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation.

1. Immediate upgrade to OpenDaylight version 0.16.5 or later where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, restrict access to the /auth/v1/roles/ API endpoint by implementing network-level controls such as firewall rules or VPN-only access to limit exposure to trusted administrators. 3. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the affected API. 4. Conduct thorough auditing and monitoring of role management logs to detect anomalous changes or unauthorized role deletions. 5. Implement input validation and sanitization at the application layer if custom modifications to OpenDaylight are maintained. 6. Regularly review and tighten role-based access controls to minimize the impact of potential privilege escalations. 7. Engage in vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on the AAA components of OpenDaylight deployments to identify residual risks. 8. Maintain an incident response plan tailored to network infrastructure compromise scenarios to enable rapid containment and remediation.