Vulnerabilities in pkg:npm/@aws-cdk/aws-eks

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-rx28-r23p-2qc3
Advisory Summary

CVE-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.

1 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:npm/@aws-cdk/aws-eks

1 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:npm/@aws-cdk/aws-eks. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-rx28-r23p-2qc3 CVE-2023-35165 MODERATE AWS CDK EKS overly permissive trust policies

CVE-2023-35165 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-35165
GHSA Identifier GHSA-rx28-r23p-2qc3
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.6
CWE Classification CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment
Affected Product Aws cdk lib
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

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).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
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-2023-35165

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.

aws-cdk-lib fixed: 2.80.0
npm install aws-cdk-lib@2.80.0
@aws-cdk/aws-eks fixed: 1.202.0
npm install @aws-cdk/aws-eks@1.202.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

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. ### Impact The 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. The 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. The 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. Both 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: "*"`. #### CreationRole 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). The role in question can be located in the IAM console. It will have the following name pattern: ```console *-ClusterCreationRole-* ``` #### MastersRole 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) 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: ```console *-MastersRole-* ``` ### Patches The 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. The 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. ### Workarounds #### CreationRole There is no workaround available for CreationRole. #### MastersRole To avoid creating the _default MastersRole_, use the `mastersRole` property to explicitly provide a role. For example: ```ts new eks.Cluster(this, 'Cluster', { ... mastersRole: iam.Role.fromRoleArn(this, 'Admin', 'arn:aws:iam::xxx:role/Admin') }); ``` ### References [https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/issues/25674](https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/issues/25674) If 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.

CVE-2023-35165 Affected Aws cdk lib Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.80.01.202.0
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?
CVE-2023-35165 is a security vulnerability in Aws cdk lib involving AWS CDK EKS overly permissive trust policies under CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment.
Which Aws cdk lib versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.80.0, 1.202.0 across affected packages: aws-cdk-lib, @aws-cdk/aws-eks.
What version fixes CVE-2023-35165?
Upgrading to 2.80.0, 1.202.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is aws-cdk-lib affected?
Yes, aws-cdk-lib is affected in releases prior to 2.80.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.80.0 or later.
Is @aws-cdk/aws-eks affected?
Yes, @aws-cdk/aws-eks is affected in releases prior to 1.202.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.202.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-35165?
CVE-2023-35165 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.6 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-35165?
CVE-2023-35165 is classified under CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment (A product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2023-35165?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls aws-cdk-lib'. 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
{
  "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" : [ {
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      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "aws-cdk-lib"
    },
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "@aws-cdk/aws-eks"
    },
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      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "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"
  }
}