CVE-2023-3955: K8s.io/kubernetes Kubernetes Privilege Escalation Vulnerability Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-q78c-gwqw-jcmc
Share
CVSS 8.8
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-3955 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-2023-3955 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-3955
GHSA Identifier GHSA-q78c-gwqw-jcmc
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-2023-3955

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-2023-3955, 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-2023-3955 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

K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120135
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120136
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120137
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120138
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/38c97fa67ed35f36e730856728c9e3807f63546a
NVD — CVE-2023-3955 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3955
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/119595
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120128
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120134
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/50334505cd27cbe7cf71865388f25a00e29b2596
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/7da6d72c05dffb3b87e62e2bc8c3228ea12ba1b9
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/b7547e28f898af37aa2f1107a49111f963250fe6
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/c4e17abb04728e3a3f9bb26e727b0f978df20ec9
K8s.io/kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes
K8s.io/kubernetes Security Information SECURITY
https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/JrX4bb7d83E
K8s.io/kubernetes Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231221-0002

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-3955?
CVE-2023-3955 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-2023-3955?
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-2023-3955?
CVE-2023-3955 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-2023-3955?
CVE-2023-3955 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-2023-3955?
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-q78c-gwqw-jcmc",
  "modified" : "2025-02-13T19:20:56Z",
  "published" : "2023-10-31T21:32:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-3955" ],
  "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-2023-3955"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/119595"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120128"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120134"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120135"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120136"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120137"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/120138"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/38c97fa67ed35f36e730856728c9e3807f63546a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/50334505cd27cbe7cf71865388f25a00e29b2596"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/7da6d72c05dffb3b87e62e2bc8c3228ea12ba1b9"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/b7547e28f898af37aa2f1107a49111f963250fe6"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/c4e17abb04728e3a3f9bb26e727b0f978df20ec9"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/JrX4bb7d83E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231221-0002"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-11-01T17:16:38Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-10-31T21:15:08Z"
  }
}