CVE-2023-27483 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-27483 was published on March 9, 2023, and it presents a vulnerability in the

Paved.SetValue

method within the

fieldpath

package in

crossplane-runtime

. The vulnerability allows for uncontrolled resource consumption, potentially leading to out-of-memory panics.

Understanding CVE-2023-27483

This vulnerability impacts applications using the

Paved.SetValue

method in affected versions of

crossplane-runtime

, potentially causing excessive memory usage and out-of-memory panics.

What is CVE-2023-27483?

The

Paved.SetValue

method in the

crossplane-runtime

package allows users to input values without proper validation, leading to uncontrolled resource consumption. When setting values in slices at any provided index, the target array can grow excessively, potentially causing out-of-memory panics.

The Impact of CVE-2023-27483

Applications that utilize the

Paved.SetValue

method with user-provided input without proper validation are susceptible to consuming significant amounts of memory, which could lead to system instability and out-of-memory errors. Proper validation of input is crucial to mitigate this vulnerability.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-27483

This vulnerability is categorized by high attack complexity and network vectors, with a base severity rating of MEDIUM (CVSS 3.1 score of 5.9). The affected versions include

crossplane-runtime

versions greater than or equal to 0.17.0 and less than 0.19.2, as well as versions below 0.16.1.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the

Paved.SetValue

method allows for uncontrolled resource consumption by growing arrays to arbitrary sizes, potentially leading to out-of-memory panics in affected applications.

Affected Systems and Versions

The

crossplane-runtime

versions impacted by this vulnerability include >= 0.17.0, < 0.19.2, and < 0.16.1.

Exploitation Mechanism

By inputting values without proper validation using the

Paved.SetValue

method, users can trigger the excessive growth of arrays, consuming significant amounts of memory and potentially causing system instability.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-27483, immediate steps should be taken to mitigate risks and prevent potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade to the patched versions, specifically 0.16.1 and 0.19.2, to mitigate the vulnerability. Alternatively, users unable to upgrade immediately can parse and validate paths before passing them to the

SetValue

method, limiting the index size appropriately to prevent excessive resource consumption.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strict input validation practices, especially when handling user-provided data, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. Regular security audits and code reviews are recommended to identify and address potential weaknesses within the application.

Patching and Updates

Staying up-to-date with software patches and version upgrades is crucial to maintaining a secure environment. Users should prioritize applying patches and updates provided by the software vendor to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.

By following these mitigation strategies and best practices, users can protect their systems from the risks associated with CVE-2023-27483 in

crossplane-runtime

.