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CVE-2023-5408NVD status: Modified

Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.11: Improper Privilege Management

CVE-2023-5408 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.11 from Red Hat, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.51% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 75% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.11 you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on access.redhat.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.11Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.13Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.14Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatOpenshift Container Platform4.11; 4.12; 4.13; 4.14Not stated

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
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

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

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.2HighCNA (redhat.com)
CVSS 3.17.2HighNVD

Official description

A privilege escalation flaw was found in the node restriction admission plugin of the kubernetes api server of OpenShift. A remote attacker who modifies the node role label could steer workloads from the control plane and etcd nodes onto different worker nodes and gain broader access to the cluster.

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

The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management

The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
  • Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
  • Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.

More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Patches and release notes

Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.11

All Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.11 vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities

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