CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-32187NVD status: Modified

k3s: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-32187 is a high-severity allocation of resources without limits or throttling vulnerability in k3s from SUSE, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions v1.24.17+k3s1, v1.25.13+k3s1, v1.26.8+k3s1 as the first without the flaw, so updating k3s to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.72% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 55% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update k3s to v1.24.17+k3s1 or v1.25.13+k3s1 or v1.26.8+k3s1 or v1.27.5+k3s1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update k3s to 1.24.17+k3s1 or 1.25.13+k3s1 or 1.26.8+k3s1 or 1.28.1+k3s1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  4. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
SUSEk3sv1.24.0 up to, but not including, v1.24.17+k3s1; v1.25.0 up to, but not including, v1.25.13+k3s1; v1.26.0 up to, but not including, v1.26.8+k3s1; sev1.27.0 up to, but not including, v1.27.5+k3s1; v1.28.0 up to, but not including, v1.28.1+k3s1v1.24.17+k3s1, v1.25.13+k3s1, v1.26.8+k3s1, v1.27.5+k3s1, v1.28.1+k3s1
K3sk3s1.24.0 up to, but not including, 1.24.17+k3s1; 1.25.0 up to, but not including, 1.25.13+k3s1; 1.26.0 up to, but not including, 1.26.8+k3s1; 1.28.0 up to, but not including, 1.28.1+k3s1; 1.27.0 up to, but not including, 1.27.5+k3s11.24.17+k3s1, 1.25.13+k3s1, 1.26.8+k3s1, 1.28.1+k3s1, 1.27.5+k3s1

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.5HighCNA (suse.de)
CVSS 3.17.5HighNVD

Official description

An Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerability in SUSE k3s allows attackers with access to K3s servers' apiserver/supervisor port (TCP 6443) cause denial of service. This issue affects k3s: from v1.24.0 before v1.24.17+k3s1, from v1.25.0 before v1.25.13+k3s1, from v1.26.0 before v1.26.8+k3s1, from sev1.27.0 before v1.27.5+k3s1, from v1.28.0 before v1.28.1+k3s1.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any intended restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Clearly specify the minimum and maximum expectations for capabilities, and dictate which behaviors are acceptable when resource allocation reaches limits.
  • Limit the amount of resources that are accessible to unprivileged users. Set per-user limits for resources. Allow the system administrator to define these limits. Be careful to avoid CWE-410.
  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.

More Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerabilities (CWE-770)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerabilities

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