CVE-2023-29403 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2023-29403 impacting Go runtime setuid/setgid binaries. Mitigation steps & affected systems. Prevent unauthorized data access with elevated privileges.
A vulnerability has been identified in the Go runtime that results in unsafe behavior in setuid/setgid binaries, potentially leading to unexpected content being read or written with elevated privileges.
Understanding CVE-2023-29403
This section will provide an overview of the CVE-2023-29403 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2023-29403?
The Go runtime on Unix platforms does not behave differently when a binary is run with the setuid/setgid bits, which can pose security risks. Executing setuid/setgid binaries under certain conditions can lead to the leakage of sensitive data or memory state.
The Impact of CVE-2023-29403
The vulnerability in setuid/setgid binaries in the Go runtime can allow an attacker to read or write unexpected content with elevated privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data leakage.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-29403
In this section, we will delve into the technical details of CVE-2023-29403.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from the lack of differentiation in the Go runtime's behavior when running setuid/setgid binaries, which can result in the unintended exposure of sensitive data or memory contents.
Affected Systems and Versions
The Go standard library's 'runtime' package versions 1.19.10 and below, as well as versions 1.20.0-1.20.5, are impacted by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by executing setuid/setgid binaries with closed standard I/O file descriptors, allowing them to read or write unexpected content with elevated privileges.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section will cover measures to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-29403.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to update the Go standard library's 'runtime' package to a non-vulnerable version, such as 1.19.10 or 1.20.5, to address the security issue.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing secure coding practices and regularly updating software components can help maintain system security and reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security updates and patches released by the Go community to address known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-29403.