The recently disclosed vulnerability, CVE-2023-47108, pertains to OpenTelemetry-Go Contrib, a collection of third-party packages for OpenTelemetry-Go. This vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit the grpc Unary Server Interceptor, which adds labels `net.peer.sock.addr` and `net.peer.sock.port` that have unbound cardinality. Specifically, any version starting from 0.37.0 and prior to 0.46.0 is affected. The issue can lead to significant memory exhaustion on the server when multiple malicious requests are sent, which makes it a critical concern for organizations utilizing this library.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, classified as high severity. Given its potential for causing memory exhaustion without requiring authentication or user interaction, the urgency for organizations to address this issue cannot be overstated. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to launch denial-of-service attacks, which could severely affect service availability.
OpenTelemetry has released version 0.46.0 to address this vulnerability. Organizations still operating on older versions are strongly encouraged to upgrade immediately. As a temporary workaround, users may remove the attributes causing the issue or disable grpc metrics instrumentation by using the `otelgrpc.WithMeterProvider` option with `noop.NewMeterProvider`.
Given the active nature of exploitation reported and the availability of a patch, organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate potential risks of service disruption and unauthorized access.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of this vulnerability explains that the grpc Unary Server Interceptor, as configured in versions 0.37.0 to 0.45.0, allows the addition of labels that lead to unbounded cardinality. This design flaw can be exploited by attackers sending multiple requests to flood the peer address and port metrics, ultimately exhausting memory resources.
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-770, which pertains to the concept of "Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling." With a CVSS version 3.1 score of 7.5, it indicates that while no privileges are required, the attack vector is network-based with low complexity, and it can lead to high availability impact.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability resides in how the grpc Unary Server Interceptor processes metrics. The interceptor appends unbounded attributes that can be exploited through high-volume requests, leading to memory exhaustion. The attack vector is network-based, which means that no local access or further privileges are required for an attacker to initiate an attack.
The attack complexity is low, as the vulnerability can be triggered easily without any user interaction. Its impact is significant, as it can lead to denial-of-service conditions, which can disrupt service availability for all users relying on the affected system.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations using affected versions of OpenTelemetry should assess the risk of server memory exhaustion as it could lead to service unavailability. The potential blast radius is significant, especially for applications that rely heavily on grpc services for communication. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to disrupt services, impacting customer trust and operational capabilities.
Given the high CVSS score, organizations are urged to address this issue in their priority patch cycle. The current exploitability status indicates that there is a high likelihood of this vulnerability being actively exploited in the wild, necessitating immediate action.
The EPSS score of 0.04299 indicates that there is a high probability of exploitation occurring. This underscores the importance of addressing this vulnerability promptly to protect organizational assets.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of OpenTelemetry include all versions from 0.37.0 up to, but not including, 0.46.0. Organizations must ensure they upgrade to version 0.46.0 or later to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to OpenTelemetry version 0.46.0 or later. If immediate upgrading is not feasible, organizations can implement workarounds such as removing the attributes that can lead to memory exhaustion or disabling grpc metrics instrumentation by using the `otelgrpc.WithMeterProvider` option with `noop.NewMeterProvider`.
For further guidance on security testing and remediation strategies, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing services tailored to their specific infrastructure.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability, such as repeated requests with high cardinality metrics. Additionally, behavioral anomalies pertaining to memory usage should be tracked to identify potential exploitation in real-time.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2023-47108 highlights the need for robust security practices in software development, particularly in managing resource allocation without limits. It serves as a reminder for security teams to continuously evaluate the impact of new features on system resources and to prioritize secure coding practices.
This vulnerability represents a pattern of how seemingly minor design flaws can lead to significant security risks. Organizations should conduct thorough reviews of their codebases, especially when integrating third-party packages, to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Security teams are encouraged to adopt a proactive approach by implementing continuous security assessments and engaging in penetration testing methodologies that can help surface similar weaknesses and improve overall security posture.
In conclusion, CVE-2023-47108 underscores the importance of addressing vulnerabilities swiftly and efficiently. Organizations must remain vigilant in their security practices to prevent such issues from escalating into major breaches.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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