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Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime in github.com/prometheus/client_golang

CVE-2022-21698

  • github.com/prometheus/client_golang
Severity High
Score 7.5/10

Summary

client_golang is the instrumentation library for Go applications in Prometheus, and the promhttp package in client_golang provides tooling around HTTP servers and clients. In client_golang prior to version 1.11.1, HTTP server is susceptible to a Denial of Service through unbounded cardinality, and potential memory exhaustion, when handling requests with non-standard HTTP methods. In order to be affected, an instrumented software must use any of `promhttp.InstrumentHandler*` middleware except `RequestsInFlight`; not filter any specific methods (e.g GET) before middleware; pass metric with `method` label name to our middleware; and not have any firewall/LB/proxy that filters away requests with unknown `method`. client_golang version 1.11.1 contains a patch for this issue. Several workarounds are available, including removing the `method` label name from counter/gauge used in the InstrumentHandler; turning off affected promhttp handlers; adding custom middleware before promhttp handler that will sanitize the request method given by Go http.Request; and using a reverse proxy or web application firewall, configured to only allow a limited set of methods.

  • LOW
  • NETWORK
  • NONE
  • UNCHANGED
  • NONE
  • NONE
  • NONE
  • HIGH

CWE-772 - Missing Release Of Resource After Effective Lifetime

'Missing release of resource after effective lifetime' is a weakness that occurs when software doesn't sufficiently release a resource (e.g. memory, CPU, disk space, etc.) after it is used. If not addressed, attackers can launch a denial of service attack (by allocating a resource and not releasing it).

Advisory Timeline

  • Published