CVE-2023-28114 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record highlights a vulnerability in

cilium-cli

that disables etcd authorization for clustermesh clusters, impacting versions prior to 0.13.2.

Understanding CVE-2023-28114

This vulnerability in

cilium-cli

exposes clusters running Cilium to unauthorized access by disabling permissions on the

etcd

store.

What is CVE-2023-28114?

The

cilium-cli

tool, a command line interface for managing Kubernetes clusters with Cilium, fails to enforce user permissions on the

etcd

store when configuring cluster mesh functionality. This can allow attackers with access to compromised

etcd

clusters to modify cluster state.

The Impact of CVE-2023-28114

With this vulnerability, unauthorized users could potentially manipulate sensitive data within

etcd

, leading to data breaches or unauthorized access to Kubernetes clusters.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-28114

This section provides a deeper look into the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises due to an incorrect mount point specification in

cilium-cli

, causing the

etcd

user permissions set by the

initContainer

to be overwritten, thereby compromising cluster security.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions of

cilium-cli

prior to 0.13.2 are impacted by this vulnerability, with cluster mesh functionality being particularly susceptible.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the vulnerability in

cilium-cli

, unauthorized users can bypass

etcd

authorization, potentially gaining the ability to make unauthorized changes to cluster states.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-28114, immediate actions and long-term security practices can be implemented to mitigate risks and prevent further exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update

cilium-cli

to version 0.13.2 or above to patch the vulnerability. Alternatively, utilizing Cilium's Helm charts to set up clusters can circumvent the issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong access controls, regularly monitor cluster activities, and conduct security audits to identify and address any vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches for all software components within Kubernetes clusters to ensure the ongoing security of the environment.