# What is CVE-2022-0778?

> CVE-2022-0778 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) in OpenSSL, published on 15 March 2022. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 73%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2022-0778

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this soon. Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 60 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.5 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 73% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 15 March 2022
- **Record last updated:** 21 June 2024
- **Main product:** OpenSSL
- **Affected products:** 15

## What is CVE-2022-0778? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can take it offline.

### The official description

The BN_mod_sqrt() function, which computes a modular square root, contains a bug that can cause it to loop forever for non-prime moduli. Internally this function is used when parsing certificates that contain elliptic curve public keys in compressed form or explicit elliptic curve parameters with a base point encoded in compressed form. It is possible to trigger the infinite loop by crafting a certificate that has invalid explicit curve parameters. Since certificate parsing happens prior to verification of the certificate signature, any process that parses an externally supplied certificate may thus be subject to a denial of service attack. The infinite loop can also be reached when parsing crafted private keys as they can contain explicit elliptic curve parameters. Thus vulnerable situations include: - TLS clients consuming server certificates - TLS servers consuming client certificates - Hosting providers taking certificates or private keys from customers - Certificate authorities parsing certification requests from subscribers - Anything else which parses ASN.1 elliptic curve parameters Also any other applications that use the BN_mod_sqrt() where the attacker can control the parameter values are vulnerable to this DoS issue. In the OpenSSL 1.0.2 version the public key is not parsed during initial parsing of the certificate which makes it slightly harder to trigger the infinite loop. However any operation which requires the public key from the certificate will trigger the infinite loop. In particular the attacker can use a self-signed certificate to trigger the loop during verification of the certificate signature. This issue affects OpenSSL versions 1.0.2, 1.1.1 and 3.0. It was addressed in the releases of 1.1.1n and 3.0.2 on the 15th March 2022. Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.2 (Affected 3.0.0,3.0.1). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1n (Affected 1.1.1-1.1.1m). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.0.2zd (Affected 1.0.2-1.0.2zc).

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`

## Is CVE-2022-0778 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 73%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 73%, 73%, 73%, 73%, 73%, 73%, 73%.

### Timeline

- 15 March 2022: Published
- 21 June 2024: Record last updated
- 19 November 2025: Exploit likelihood jumped
- 22 November 2025: Exploit likelihood fell

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2022-0778 scores **60 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2022-0778?

The published record lists 15 products. Versions are as published: "1.0.2 to before 1.0.2zd" means from 1.0.2 up to, but not including, 1.0.2zd.

- [OpenSSL](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/openssl/openssl) by [OpenSSL](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/openssl) (Application): 1.0.2 to before 1.0.2zd, 1.1.0 to before 1.1.1n, 3.0.0 to before 3.0.2
- [Node.js](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/nodejs/node.js) by [Nodejs](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/nodejs) (Application): 12.0.0 to 12.12.0, 12.13.0 to before 12.22.11, after 14.0.0 to 14.14.0, 14.15.0 to before 14.19.1, after 16.0.0 to 16.12.0, 16.13.0 to before 16.14.2, after 17.0.0 to before 17.7.2
- [Mariadb](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/mariadb/mariadb) by [Mariadb](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/mariadb) (Application): 10.2.0 to before 10.2.42, 10.3.0 to before 10.3.33, 10.4.0 to before 10.4.23, 10.5.0 to before 10.5.14, 10.6.0 to before 10.6.6, 10.7.0 to before 10.7.2
- [Debian Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/debian/debian_linux) by [Debian](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/debian) (Operating system): 9.0, 10.0, 11.0
- [Fedora](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/fedoraproject/fedora) by [Fedoraproject](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/fedoraproject) (Operating system): 34, 36
- [Nessus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/tenable/nessus) by [Tenable](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/tenable) (Application): before 8.15.4, 10.0.0 to before 10.1.2
- [500f](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/500f) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Hardware): version not specified
- [500f Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/500f_firmware) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Operating system): version not specified
- [A250](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/a250) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Hardware): version not specified
- [A250 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/a250_firmware) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Cloud Volumes Ontap Mediator](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/cloud_volumes_ontap_mediator) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Clustered Data Ontap](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/clustered_data_ontap) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Clustered Data Ontap Antivirus Connector](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/clustered_data_ontap_antivirus_connector) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Santricity Smi-S Provider](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/santricity_smi-s_provider) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Storagegrid](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/storagegrid) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified

## How do I fix CVE-2022-0778?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [openssl.org](https://www.openssl.org/news/secadv/20220315.txt) (Vendor advisory)
- [packetstormsecurity.com](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167344/OpenSSL-1.0.2-1.1.1-3.0-BN_mod_sqrt-Infinite-Loop.html) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [seclists.org](http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/33) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [seclists.org](http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/35) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [seclists.org](http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/May/38) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [cert-portal.siemens.com](https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-712929.pdf) (Third-party advisory)
- [git.openssl.org](https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=3118eb64934499d93db3230748a452351d1d9a65)
- [git.openssl.org](https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=380085481c64de749a6dd25cdf0bcf4360b30f83)
- [git.openssl.org](https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=a466912611aa6cbdf550cd10601390e587451246)
- [lists.debian.org](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/03/msg00023.html) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [lists.debian.org](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/03/msg00024.html) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/323SNN6ZX7PRJJWP2BUAFLPUAE42XWLZ/)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GDB3GQVJPXJE7X5C5JN6JAA4XUDWD6E6/)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/W6K3PR542DXWLEFFMFIDMME4CWMHJRMG/)
- [psirt.global.sonicwall.com](https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2022-0002) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.gentoo.org](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202210-02) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220321-0002/) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220429-0005/) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240621-0006/)
- [support.apple.com](https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213255) (Third-party advisory)
- [support.apple.com](https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213256) (Third-party advisory)
- [support.apple.com](https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213257) (Third-party advisory)
- [debian.org](https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5103) (Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [tenable.com](https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-06) (Third-party advisory)
- [tenable.com](https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-07) (Third-party advisory)
- [tenable.com](https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-08) (Third-party advisory)
- [tenable.com](https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2022-09) (Third-party advisory)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2022-0778?

CVE-2022-0778 is a high-severity flaw in OpenSSL, published on 15 March 2022. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2022-0778?

It scores 7.5 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2022-0778 is 60 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.

### Is CVE-2022-0778 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 73%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2022-0778 affect?

For OpenSSL: 1.0.2 to before 1.0.2zd, 1.1.0 to before 1.1.1n, 3.0.0 to before 3.0.2. The record lists 15 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2022-0778?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2022-0778 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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