CVE-2023-3676: K8s.io/kubernetes Kubernetes Privilege Escalation Vulnerability Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-7fxm-f474-hf8w
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-3676 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) kubernetes privilege escalation vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting K8s.io/kubernetes libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves kubernetes privilege escalation vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.28.1, 1.27.5, 1.26.8, 1.25.13, 1.24.17.

CVE-2023-3676 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-3676
GHSA Identifier GHSA-7fxm-f474-hf8w
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product K8s.io/kubernetes
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-3676

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected K8s.io/kubernetes dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

k8s.io/kubernetes fixed: 1.28.1 
Upgrade k8s.io/kubernetes to 1.28.1
k8s.io/kubernetes fixed: 1.27.5 
Upgrade k8s.io/kubernetes to 1.27.5
k8s.io/kubernetes fixed: 1.26.8 
Upgrade k8s.io/kubernetes to 1.26.8
k8s.io/kubernetes fixed: 1.25.13 
Upgrade k8s.io/kubernetes to 1.25.13
k8s.io/kubernetes fixed: 1.24.17 
Upgrade k8s.io/kubernetes to 1.24.17
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for k8s.io/kubernetes

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2023-3676, inspect your project dependencies for K8s.io/kubernetes:

inspect dependencies for k8s.io/kubernetes

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of K8s.io/kubernetes in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.28.1), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In K8s.io/kubernetes, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

A security issue was discovered in Kubernetes where a user that can create pods on Windows nodes may be able to escalate to admin privileges on those nodes. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if they include Windows nodes.

CVE-2023-3676 Affected K8s.io/kubernetes Versions

5 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.28.11.27.51.26.81.25.131.24.17
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
k8s.io/kubernetes
golang/k8s.io/kubernetes
Go
≥ 1.28.0
< 1.28.1
All 1 versions
1.28.0
1.28.1
k8s.io/kubernetes
golang/k8s.io/kubernetes
Go
≥ 1.27.0
< 1.27.5
1.27.5
k8s.io/kubernetes
golang/k8s.io/kubernetes
Go
≥ 1.26.0
< 1.26.8
1.26.8
k8s.io/kubernetes
golang/k8s.io/kubernetes
Go
≥ 1.25.0
< 1.25.13
1.25.13
k8s.io/kubernetes
golang/k8s.io/kubernetes
Go
< 1.24.17
1.24.17

References

NVD — CVE-2023-3676 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3676
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/119339
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120127
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120129
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120130
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120131
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120132
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120133
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/073f9ea33a93ddaecdc2e829150fb715f6387399
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/39cc101c7855341c651a943b9836b50fbace8a6b
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/74b617310c24ca84c2ec90c3858af745d65b5226
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/890483394221c8f22e88c48f86cd4eaf4de65fd6
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/a53faf5e17ed0b0771a605c6401ba4cbf297b59a
K8s.io/kubernetes Security Information SECURITY
https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/d_fvHZ9a5zc
K8s.io/kubernetes Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231130-0007

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-3676?
CVE-2023-3676 is a security vulnerability in K8s.io/kubernetes involving Kubernetes privilege escalation vulnerability under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which K8s.io/kubernetes versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.28.1, 1.27.5, 1.26.8, 1.25.13, 1.24.17 across affected packages: k8s.io/kubernetes.
What version fixes CVE-2023-3676?
Upgrading to 1.28.1, 1.27.5, 1.26.8, 1.25.13, 1.24.17 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is k8s.io/kubernetes affected?
Yes, k8s.io/kubernetes is affected in releases prior to 1.28.1, 1.27.5, 1.26.8, 1.25.13, 1.24.17. Upgrade your dependency to 1.28.1, 1.27.5, 1.26.8, 1.25.13, 1.24.17 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-3676?
CVE-2023-3676 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-3676?
CVE-2023-3676 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2023-3676?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for k8s.io/kubernetes'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-7fxm-f474-hf8w",
  "modified" : "2025-02-13T19:20:54Z",
  "published" : "2023-10-31T21:32:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-3676" ],
  "summary" : "Kubernetes privilege escalation vulnerability",
  "details" : "A security issue was discovered in Kubernetes where a user that can create pods on Windows nodes may be able to escalate to admin privileges on those nodes. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if they include Windows nodes.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "k8s.io/kubernetes"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.28.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.28.1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "versions" : [ "1.28.0" ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "k8s.io/kubernetes"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.27.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.27.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "k8s.io/kubernetes"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.26.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.26.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "k8s.io/kubernetes"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.25.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.25.13"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "k8s.io/kubernetes"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.24.17"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3676"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/119339"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120127"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120129"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120130"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120131"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120132"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120133"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/073f9ea33a93ddaecdc2e829150fb715f6387399"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/39cc101c7855341c651a943b9836b50fbace8a6b"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/74b617310c24ca84c2ec90c3858af745d65b5226"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/890483394221c8f22e88c48f86cd4eaf4de65fd6"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/a53faf5e17ed0b0771a605c6401ba4cbf297b59a"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/d_fvHZ9a5zc"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231130-0007"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-11-01T14:36:22Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-10-31T21:15:08Z"
  }
}