CVE-2023-28840 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Moby, an open-source container framework developed by Docker Inc. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject arbitrary Ethernet frames into the encrypted overlay networks, potentially leading to Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. The Moby daemon component (`dockerd`), which is commonly referred to as Docker, is utilized in various downstream projects, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for many organizations.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating a high severity level. This score reflects the potential impact of an exploit. Risk to organizations includes the possibility of establishing unauthorized connections through container gateways that should be blocked by firewalls, and further escalations in access privileges.
Given the critical nature of this vulnerability, organizations using Moby should address this issue as part of their immediate patching cycle. Patches have been released in Moby versions 23.0.3 and 20.10.24, and users of Mirantis Container Runtime should update to version 20.10.16 to mitigate the risks.
The urgency for defenders cannot be overstated, as the injection of arbitrary Ethernet frames poses significant security risks. Organizations should implement the necessary updates to ensure their systems are protected against potential exploits.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows the injection of arbitrary Ethernet frames, which can lead to Denial of Service attacks. The affected product is Moby, and the vulnerability has been classified as high severity with a CVSS score of 7.5. The vulnerability was published on April 4, 2023.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-28840 lies within the implementation of the overlay network driver in Swarm Mode, which uses VXLAN to encapsulate Ethernet frames. During the setup of an encrypted overlay network, Moby installs specific iptables rules to enforce IPSec for both incoming and outgoing traffic. However, these rules can be overridden by existing administrator-set rules, potentially allowing unencrypted datagrams that should be discarded.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, with a high attack complexity and no privileges required for exploitation. User interaction is not necessary for an exploit to succeed. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability impacts are considered low and none, respectively.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing Moby are at risk of severe disruptions due to this vulnerability. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to disrupt services or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The potential blast radius is significant, as many downstream projects depend on Moby, making the vulnerability widespread across various environments.
With the current CVSS score of 7.5, organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The urgency is further emphasized by the availability of patches in recent Moby releases, making it essential for organizations to act swiftly.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects Moby versions starting from 1.12.0 to below 20.10.24 and from 23.0.0 to below 23.0.3. Users of Mirantis Container Runtime should update to version 20.10.16.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the patches available in Moby releases 23.0.3 and 20.10.24. For Mirantis Container Runtime users, upgrade to version 20.10.16.
In addition to applying these patches, organizations should close the VXLAN port (UDP port 4789) to incoming traffic at the Internet boundary to prevent VXLAN packet injection. It is also essential to ensure that the `xt_u32` kernel module is available on all nodes in the Swarm cluster.
For further insights on effective security measures, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services that help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor logs for any unusual incoming VXLAN traffic. Additionally, behavioral anomalies in network traffic patterns may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2023-28840 lies in the potential for attackers to leverage weaknesses in network configurations. This vulnerability represents a broader pattern of security challenges in container orchestration environments.
Organizations should take proactive measures to strengthen their defenses against similar vulnerabilities. Implementing robust security practices, including regular security assessments and monitoring for suspicious activity, is crucial.
For more information on securing containerized environments, organizations can explore our penetration testing methodology and related articles.
Security teams should also review their incident response plans and ensure they are prepared to handle potential threats stemming from this type of vulnerability.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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