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Supplementary groups are not set up properly in github.com/containerd/containerd

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Feb 16, 2023 in containerd/containerd • Updated Sep 6, 2024

Package

gomod github.com/containerd/containerd (Go)

Affected versions

>= 1.6.0, < 1.6.18
< 1.5.18

Patched versions

1.6.18
1.5.18

Description

Impact

A bug was found in containerd where supplementary groups are not set up properly inside a container. If an attacker has direct access to a container and manipulates their supplementary group access, they may be able to use supplementary group access to bypass primary group restrictions in some cases, potentially gaining access to sensitive information or gaining the ability to execute code in that container.

Downstream applications that use the containerd client library may be affected as well.

Patches

This bug has been fixed in containerd v1.6.18 and v.1.5.18. Users should update to these versions and recreate containers to resolve this issue. Users who rely on a downstream application that uses containerd's client library should check that application for a separate advisory and instructions.

Workarounds

Ensure that the "USER $USERNAME" Dockerfile instruction is not used. Instead, set the container entrypoint to a value similar to ENTRYPOINT ["su", "-", "user"] to allow su to properly set up supplementary groups.

References

Note that CVE IDs apply to a particular implementation, even if an issue is common.

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

To report a security issue in containerd:

References

@dmcgowan dmcgowan published to containerd/containerd Feb 16, 2023
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Feb 16, 2023
Reviewed Feb 16, 2023
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Feb 16, 2023
Last updated Sep 6, 2024

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
Low

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS score

0.131%
(49th percentile)

CVE ID

CVE-2023-25173

GHSA ID

GHSA-hmfx-3pcx-653p

Source code

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