CVE-2023-38496 (GCVE-0-2023-38496)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2023-07-25 21:02 – Updated: 2024-10-10 17:31
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
Apptainer's ineffective privileges drop when requesting container network
Summary
Apptainer is an open source container platform. Version 1.2.0-rc.2 introduced an ineffective privilege drop when requesting container network setup, therefore subsequent functions are called with root privileges, the attack surface is rather limited for users but an attacker could possibly craft a starter config to delete any directory on the host filesystems. A security fix has been included in Apptainer 1.2.1. There is no known workaround outside of upgrading to Apptainer 1.2.1.
Severity
6.1 (Medium)
SSVC
Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical Impact: partial
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2024-10-10 16:24 UTC
Assigner
References
3 references
| URL | Tags |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/a… | x_refsource_CONFIRM |
| https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523 | x_refsource_MISC |
| https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578 | x_refsource_MISC |
Impacted products
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-08-02T17:46:54.942Z",
"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"shortName": "CVE"
},
"references": [
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx"
},
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523"
},
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578"
}
],
"title": "CVE Program Container"
},
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2023-38496",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2024-10-10T16:24:46.824995Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-10-10T17:31:57.112Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"product": "apptainer",
"vendor": "apptainer",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "\u003e= 1.2.0-rc.2, \u003c 1.2.1"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "Apptainer is an open source container platform. Version 1.2.0-rc.2 introduced an ineffective privilege drop when requesting container network setup, therefore subsequent functions are called with root privileges, the attack surface is rather limited for users but an attacker could possibly craft a starter config to delete any directory on the host filesystems. A security fix has been included in Apptainer 1.2.1. There is no known workaround outside of upgrading to Apptainer 1.2.1."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 6.1,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "LOW",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
}
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-271",
"description": "CWE-271: Privilege Dropping / Lowering Errors",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
},
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-269",
"description": "CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2023-07-25T21:02:12.018Z",
"orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
"shortName": "GitHub_M"
},
"references": [
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx"
},
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523"
},
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578"
}
],
"source": {
"advisory": "GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx",
"discovery": "UNKNOWN"
},
"title": "Apptainer\u0027s ineffective privileges drop when requesting container network"
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
"assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
"cveId": "CVE-2023-38496",
"datePublished": "2023-07-25T21:02:12.018Z",
"dateReserved": "2023-07-18T16:28:12.076Z",
"dateUpdated": "2024-10-10T17:31:57.112Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.1",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"epss": {
"cve": "CVE-2023-38496",
"date": "2026-10-03",
"epss": "0.0026",
"percentile": "0.16126"
},
"nvd": {
"cve": {
"affected": [
{
"affectedData": [
{
"product": "apptainer",
"vendor": "apptainer",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "\u003e= 1.2.0-rc.2, \u003c 1.2.1"
}
]
}
],
"source": "security-advisories@github.com"
}
],
"configurations": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:lfprojects:apptainer:1.2.0:-:*:*:*:go:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "7B4FFEA3-9FB9-4B9F-968E-E5C3282B6786",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:lfprojects:apptainer:1.2.0:rc2:*:*:*:go:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "35B641D0-6C93-45F0-A297-1BBE3BF65DB6",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "Apptainer is an open source container platform. Version 1.2.0-rc.2 introduced an ineffective privilege drop when requesting container network setup, therefore subsequent functions are called with root privileges, the attack surface is rather limited for users but an attacker could possibly craft a starter config to delete any directory on the host filesystems. A security fix has been included in Apptainer 1.2.1. There is no known workaround outside of upgrading to Apptainer 1.2.1."
}
],
"id": "CVE-2023-38496",
"lastModified": "2026-06-17T06:10:29.507",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 6.1,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "LOW",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
"impactScore": 4.2,
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"type": "Secondary"
},
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "NONE",
"baseScore": 3.3,
"baseSeverity": "LOW",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "LOW",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
"impactScore": 1.4,
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
],
"ssvcV203": [
{
"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"ssvcData": {
"id": "CVE-2023-38496",
"options": [
{
"exploitation": "none"
},
{
"automatable": "no"
},
{
"technicalImpact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2024-10-10T16:24:46.824995Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
}
}
]
},
"published": "2023-07-25T22:15:10.503",
"references": [
{
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523"
},
{
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578"
},
{
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"tags": [
"Patch",
"Vendor Advisory"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx"
},
{
"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523"
},
{
"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578"
},
{
"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"tags": [
"Patch",
"Vendor Advisory"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com",
"vulnStatus": "Modified",
"weaknesses": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-269"
},
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-271"
}
],
"source": "security-advisories@github.com",
"type": "Secondary"
},
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "NVD-CWE-noinfo"
}
],
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
]
}
},
"redhat_vex": {
"current_release_date": "2026-06-26T09:56:22+00:00",
"cve": "CVE-2023-38496",
"id": "CVE-2023-38496",
"initial_release_date": "2023-07-26T00:00:00+00:00",
"product_status:known_not_affected": "1",
"source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "apptainer: Ineffective privileges drop when requesting container network",
"url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2023/cve-2023-38496.json",
"version": "3"
},
"vulnrichment": {
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-08-02T17:46:54.942Z",
"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"shortName": "CVE"
},
"references": [
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx"
},
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523"
},
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC",
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578"
}
],
"title": "CVE Program Container"
},
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2023-38496",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2024-10-10T16:24:46.824995Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-10-10T17:31:53.000Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"product": "apptainer",
"vendor": "apptainer",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "\u003e= 1.2.0-rc.2, \u003c 1.2.1"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "Apptainer is an open source container platform. Version 1.2.0-rc.2 introduced an ineffective privilege drop when requesting container network setup, therefore subsequent functions are called with root privileges, the attack surface is rather limited for users but an attacker could possibly craft a starter config to delete any directory on the host filesystems. A security fix has been included in Apptainer 1.2.1. There is no known workaround outside of upgrading to Apptainer 1.2.1."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 6.1,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "LOW",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
}
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-271",
"description": "CWE-271: Privilege Dropping / Lowering Errors",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
},
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-269",
"description": "CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2023-07-25T21:02:12.018Z",
"orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
"shortName": "GitHub_M"
},
"references": [
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_CONFIRM"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/security/advisories/GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx"
},
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1523"
},
{
"name": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578",
"tags": [
"x_refsource_MISC"
],
"url": "https://github.com/apptainer/apptainer/pull/1578"
}
],
"source": {
"advisory": "GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx",
"discovery": "UNKNOWN"
},
"title": "Apptainer\u0027s ineffective privileges drop when requesting container network"
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
"assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
"cveId": "CVE-2023-38496",
"datePublished": "2023-07-25T21:02:12.018Z",
"dateReserved": "2023-07-18T16:28:12.076Z",
"dateUpdated": "2024-10-10T17:31:57.112Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.1"
}
}
}
Loading…
Loading…
Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Loading…
Loading…
The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
Loading…
Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.
Loading…