Discover the details of CVE-2023-41317 impacting Apollo Router, a high-performance graph router written in Rust. Learn about the Denial-of-Service vulnerability, its impact, and mitigation steps.
A Unnamed "Subscription" operation in Apollo Router results in a Denial-of-Service vulnerability in the apollographql/router container.
Understanding CVE-2023-41317
This section dives into the details of the vulnerability to provide insights into its implications and the necessary actions to mitigate the risk.
What is CVE-2023-41317?
The Apollo Router, a high-performance graph router written in Rust for federated supergraphs using Apollo Federation 2, is vulnerable to a Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack. The vulnerability arises when specific conditions are met, causing the Router to panic and terminate, affecting versions v1.28.0, v1.28.1, and v1.29.0.
The Impact of CVE-2023-41317
The vulnerability allows attackers to trigger a DoS by sending an anonymous subscription operation to the Router. While there are no data-privacy risks or exposure of sensitive information, it can disrupt the service availability and potentially crash the affected system.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-41317
Explore the technical aspects, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms of CVE-2023-41317.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability occurs when specific conditions related to GraphQL Subscriptions are met, leading to a panic and termination in the impacted versions of the Apollo Router.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability impacts Apollo Router versions v1.28.0, v1.28.1, and v1.29.0. Users running these versions are susceptible to the Denial-of-Service vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by sending an anonymous
subscription
operation when subscriptions are enabled, triggering the Router to panic and terminate.
Mitigation and Prevention
Understand the steps to mitigate the risk, enhance security practices, and apply necessary updates to protect systems.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to upgrade to Apollo Router v1.29.1 to address the vulnerability. It provides a straightforward upgrade path for those running impacted versions. Additionally, if subscriptions are unnecessary, disabling them is a mitigation option.
Long-Term Security Practices
Ensure regular updates and security assessments of containerized applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security patches and updates released by Apollo Router. Regularly update the container to the latest secure version to mitigate the risk of potential vulnerabilities.