CVE-2023-37264 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Tekton Pipelines project provides k8s-style resources for declaring CI/CD-style pipelines. Starting in version 0.35.0, pipelines do not validate child UIDs, leading to a vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers. This CVE affects TektonCD Pipeline versions >= 0.35.0, <= 0.49.0.

Understanding CVE-2023-37264

This vulnerability in Tekton Pipelines allows users to create child TaskRuns that the Pipelines controller accepts as the original TaskRun, potentially allowing unauthorized modifications to Pipelines at runtime.

What is CVE-2023-37264?

The CVE-2023-37264 vulnerability arises from the lack of validation of child UIDs in pipelines, enabling users to manipulate Pipelines and associate unrelated Runs, violating security requirements.

The Impact of CVE-2023-37264

Attackers with access to create TaskRuns can exploit this vulnerability to trick the Pipeline controller into associating unauthorized TaskRuns with Pipelines, potentially compromising the integrity of the CI/CD process.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-37264

This section provides specific technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

While the software stores and validates the PipelineRun's information in the child Run's OwnerReference, it lacks comprehensive validation in the ChildStatusReference, allowing for potential exploitation.

Affected Systems and Versions

TektonCD Pipeline versions >= 0.35.0, <= 0.49.0 are affected by this vulnerability, impacting users of these versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

The lack of validation of child UIDs in pipelines enables attackers to create TaskRuns that mimic the original TaskRuns, leading to potential unauthorized modifications.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect systems from CVE-2023-37264, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and the importance of regular patching and updates must be considered.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations using the affected versions should restrict access to create TaskRuns and implement stringent authorization controls to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strict access controls and regularly auditing and monitoring Pipelines can help prevent unauthorized modifications and maintain the integrity of the CI/CD process.

Patching and Updates

While there are no known patches available at the time of publication, users are advised to stay informed about security updates and promptly apply any patches released by TektonCD to address this vulnerability.