CVE-2023-35165: Aws cdk lib AWS CDK EKS Overly Permissive Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2023-35165 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.6) aws cdk eks overly permissive vulnerability (CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment) affecting Aws cdk lib libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves aws cdk eks overly permissive trust policies. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.80.0, 1.202.0.
CVE-2023-35165 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 6.6
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2023-35165
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Aws cdk lib dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
npm install aws-cdk-lib@2.80.0
npm install @aws-cdk/aws-eks@1.202.0
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls aws-cdk-lib
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2023-35165, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls aws-cdk-lib
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Aws cdk lib in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.80.0), your application is affected.
Note: The npm ls aws-cdk-lib command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment, where a product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. In Aws cdk lib, 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
CVE-2023-35165 Affected Aws cdk lib Versions
2 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
aws-cdk-lib
|
npm |
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.80.0
|
2.80.0
|
|
@aws-cdk/aws-eks
|
npm |
≥ 1.57.0
< 1.202.0
|
1.202.0
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-35165?
Which Aws cdk lib versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2023-35165?
Is aws-cdk-lib affected?
Is @aws-cdk/aws-eks affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-35165?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-35165?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2023-35165?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-rx28-r23p-2qc3",
"modified" : "2023-06-20T18:06:03Z",
"published" : "2023-06-19T22:47:26Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-35165" ],
"summary" : "AWS CDK EKS overly permissive trust policies",
"details" : "If you are using the `eks.Cluster` or `eks.FargateCluster` construct we need you to take action. Other users are not affected and can stop reading.\n\n### Impact \n\nThe AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) allows for the definition of Amazon Elastic Container Service for Kubernetes (EKS) clusters. `eks.Cluster` and `eks.FargateCluster` constructs create two roles that have an overly permissive trust policy. \n \nThe first, referred to as the _CreationRole_, is used by lambda handlers to create the cluster and deploy Kubernetes resources (e.g `KubernetesManifest`, `HelmChart`, ...) onto it. Users with CDK version higher or equal to [1.62.0](https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/releases/tag/v1.62.0) (including v2 users) will be affected.\n \nThe second, referred to as the _default MastersRole_, is provisioned only if the `mastersRole` property isn't provided and has permissions to execute `kubectl` commands on the cluster. Users with CDK version higher or equal to [1.57.0](https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/releases/tag/v1.57.0) (including v2 users) will be affected.\n \nBoth these roles use the account root principal in their trust policy, which allows any identity in the account with the appropriate `sts:AssumeRole `permissions to assume it. For example, this can happen if another role in your account has `sts:AssumeRole` permissions on `Resource: \"*\"`.\n\n#### CreationRole \n\nUsers with CDK version higher or equal to [1.62.0](https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/releases/tag/v1.62.0) (including v2 users). The role in question can be located in the IAM console. It will have the following name pattern: \n\n```console \n*-ClusterCreationRole-* \n```\n\n#### MastersRole \n\nUsers with CDK version higher or equal to [1.57.0](https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/releases/tag/v1.57.0) (including v2 users) that are not specifying the `mastersRole` property. The role in question can be located in the IAM console. It will have the following name pattern: \n\n```console\n*-MastersRole-*\n```\n\n### Patches \n\nThe issue has been fixed in versions [v1.202.0](https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/releases/tag/v1.202.0), [v2.80.0](https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/releases/tag/v2.80.0). We recommend you upgrade to a fixed version as soon as possible. See [Managing Dependencies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/manage-dependencies.html) in the CDK Developer Guide for instructions on how to do this. \n \nThe new versions no longer use the account root principal. Instead, they restrict the trust policy to the specific roles of lambda handlers that need it. This introduces some breaking changes that might require you to perform code changes. Refer to https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/issues/25674 for a detailed discussion of options. \n\n### Workarounds \n\n#### CreationRole \n\nThere is no workaround available for CreationRole. \n\n#### MastersRole \n\nTo avoid creating the _default MastersRole_, use the `mastersRole` property to explicitly provide a role. For example: \n\n```ts \nnew eks.Cluster(this, 'Cluster', { \n ... \n mastersRole: iam.Role.fromRoleArn(this, 'Admin', 'arn:aws:iam::xxx:role/Admin') \n}); \n```\n\n### References\n\n[https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/issues/25674](https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/issues/25674)\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory we ask that you contact AWS/Amazon Security via our [vulnerability reporting page](https://aws.amazon.com/security/vulnerability-reporting) or directly via email to [aws-security@amazon.com](mailto:aws-security@amazon.com). Please do not create a public GitHub issue.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "aws-cdk-lib"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.80.0"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "@aws-cdk/aws-eks"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "1.57.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "1.202.0"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/security/advisories/GHSA-rx28-r23p-2qc3"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-35165"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/issues/25674"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-266", "CWE-863" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2023-06-19T22:47:26Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2023-06-23T21:15:09Z"
}
}