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CVE-2023-5044: High Vulnerability in Kubernetes Ingress-Nginx

CVE-2023-5044 is a high-severity vulnerability discovered in Kubernetes' ingress-nginx component, allowing for code injection via the permanent-redirect annotation. Immediate action is necessary to mitigate potential risks.

HIGHPublic ExploitCVSS 7.6 · Published October 25, 2023

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CVE-2023-5044 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the ingress-nginx component of Kubernetes. This vulnerability allows code injection via the nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/permanent-redirect annotation. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.6, indicating significant risk. Organizations utilizing affected versions of ingress-nginx must prioritize remediation efforts.

The potential real-world impact of this vulnerability is considerable, as it could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. Given the attack vector is network-based, the exploitation could occur remotely without requiring user interaction, further elevating the risk to organizations. Therefore, organizations should address this vulnerability in their patch cycle as a matter of urgency.

Details regarding the exploitation status indicate that there is evidence of known exploits. Organizations must be vigilant and proactively implement the necessary patches to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.

Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to severe consequences, including unauthorized access and data breaches.

Vulnerability Details

The official description of CVE-2023-5044 states that it allows code injection via the nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/permanent-redirect annotation. The vulnerability type is classified under CWE-94 (Code Injection), with a secondary classification of CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation).

According to the primary metric source, the CVSS score is 8.8 with high severity, while a secondary metric lists the score as 7.6. This discrepancy highlights the importance of understanding the context in which the vulnerability can be exploited.

The affected product is the ingress-nginx component in Kubernetes, specifically versions prior to 1.9.0. This vulnerability was published on October 25, 2023, and has undergone modification since its initial disclosure.

The attack vector for this vulnerability is classified as NETWORK with low attack complexity, requiring low privileges and no user interaction. The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are rated as high, low, and low, respectively.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of CVE-2023-5044 involves improper validation of inputs related to the permanent-redirect annotation in ingress-nginx. This flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious code that could be executed within the context of the affected application.

The attack vector utilizes the network, allowing exploitation from remote locations without requiring physical access to the vulnerable system. The attack complexity is low, making it accessible to a broader range of potential attackers.

No user interaction is required for exploitation, which increases the risk to organizations. The attack can significantly impact confidentiality due to the potential for unauthorized data access. Integrity may be compromised as attackers could alter data, while availability impacts are rated low.

Risk & Impact Analysis

The real-world deployment of this vulnerability presents a considerable risk to organizations utilizing ingress-nginx in their Kubernetes environments. The potential for code execution could lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of sensitive data.

The blast radius of this vulnerability is substantial, as it could affect any application utilizing the ingress-nginx component. The urgency for remediation is underscored by the high CVSS score and the existence of known exploits.

Organizations should assess their exposure to this vulnerability, especially if they are running versions prior to 1.9.0 of ingress-nginx. The growing trend of code injection attacks makes this a critical vulnerability to address promptly.

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

Yes

Public PoC

Yes

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

The vulnerability affects all versions of ingress-nginx prior to 1.9.0. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest version to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.

Mitigation & Remediation

To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to the latest version of ingress-nginx. If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, organizations may consider implementing additional security measures such as input validation and monitoring for unusual behavior.

For a comprehensive security assessment, organizations can utilize application security assessments to identify potential weaknesses in their configurations.

Detection Guidance

Organizations should monitor for log indicators related to unusual redirect annotations and analyze behavioral anomalies within their systems. Network signatures can also be configured to detect potential exploitation attempts.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The long-term significance of CVE-2023-5044 illustrates a trend in code injection vulnerabilities within cloud-native environments. Organizations must develop proactive security measures to protect against similar threats.

Security teams should prioritize the implementation of secure coding practices to mitigate the risks associated with vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-5044. For further insights, organizations can explore the API penetration testing guide and the penetration testing methodology to enhance their security posture.

Furthermore, engaging with a trusted provider for red teaming services can provide organizations with a comprehensive understanding of their security vulnerabilities and help in developing effective remediation strategies.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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