CVE-2023-28841

MEDIUM EPSS 48.4%
Published Apr 4, 20233y ago · Modified Jun 17, 20262w ago
6.8 CVSS 3.1
Medium
Find Similar
Published Apr 4, 2023 3y ago
Last Modified Jun 17, 2026 2w ago

Description

Moby is an open source container framework developed by Docker Inc. that is distributed as Docker, Mirantis Container Runtime, and various other downstream projects/products. The Moby daemon component (`dockerd`), which is developed as moby/moby is commonly referred to as *Docker*. Swarm Mode, which is compiled in and delivered by default in `dockerd` and is thus present in most major Moby downstreams, is a simple, built-in container orchestrator that is implemented through a combination of SwarmKit and supporting network code. The `overlay` network driver is a core feature of Swarm Mode, providing isolated virtual LANs that allow communication between containers and services across the cluster. This driver is an implementation/user of VXLAN, which encapsulates link-layer (Ethernet) frames in UDP datagrams that tag the frame with the VXLAN metadata, including a VXLAN Network ID (VNI) that identifies the originating overlay network. In addition, the overlay network driver supports an optional, off-by-default encrypted mode, which is especially useful when VXLAN packets traverses an untrusted network between nodes. Encrypted overlay networks function by encapsulating the VXLAN datagrams through the use of the IPsec Encapsulating Security Payload protocol in Transport mode. By deploying IPSec encapsulation, encrypted overlay networks gain the additional properties of source authentication through cryptographic proof, data integrity through check-summing, and confidentiality through encryption. When setting an endpoint up on an encrypted overlay network, Moby installs three iptables (Linux kernel firewall) rules that enforce both incoming and outgoing IPSec. These rules rely on the `u32` iptables extension provided by the `xt_u32` kernel module to directly filter on a VXLAN packet's VNI field, so that IPSec guarantees can be enforced on encrypted overlay networks without interfering with other overlay networks or other users of VXLAN. An iptables rule designates outgoing VXLAN datagrams with a VNI that corresponds to an encrypted overlay network for IPsec encapsulation. Encrypted overlay networks on affected platforms silently transmit unencrypted data. As a result, `overlay` networks may appear to be functional, passing traffic as expected, but without any of the expected confidentiality or data integrity guarantees. It is possible for an attacker sitting in a trusted position on the network to read all of the application traffic that is moving across the overlay network, resulting in unexpected secrets or user data disclosure. Thus, because many database protocols, internal APIs, etc. are not protected by a second layer of encryption, a user may use Swarm encrypted overlay networks to provide confidentiality, which due to this vulnerability this is no longer guaranteed. Patches are available in Moby releases 23.0.3, and 20.10.24. As Mirantis Container Runtime's 20.10 releases are numbered differently, users of that platform should update to 20.10.16. Some workarounds are available. Close the VXLAN port (by default, UDP port 4789) to outgoing traffic at the Internet boundary in order to prevent unintentionally leaking unencrypted traffic over the Internet, and/or ensure that the `xt_u32` kernel module is available on all nodes of the Swarm cluster.

CVSS Details

Base Score
6.8
Exploitability
2.2
Impact
4.0
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Attack Vector Network
Attack Complexity High
Privileges Required None
User Interaction None
Scope Changed
Confidentiality High
Integrity None
Availability None

Threat Intelligence

EPSS Exploit Probability
48.4% percentile
Exploit & Patch Status
Public Exploit Known
Patch Available

Weaknesses 3

CWE-311
CWE-636
CWE-755

Affected Products 2

VendorProductVersionRange
mobyprojectmoby*≥1.12.0  –  <20.10.24
mobyprojectmoby*≥23.0.0  –  <23.0.3

References 11

  • github.com https://github.com/moby/libnetwork/blob/d9fae4c73daf76c3b0f77e14b45b8bf612ba764d/drivers/overlay/encryption.go#L205-L207
    Product
  • github.com https://github.com/moby/libnetwork/security/advisories/GHSA-gvm4-2qqg-m333
    Vendor Advisory
  • github.com https://github.com/moby/moby/issues/43382
    ExploitIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
  • github.com https://github.com/moby/moby/pull/45118
    Issue TrackingPatch
  • github.com https://github.com/moby/moby/security/advisories/GHSA-232p-vwff-86mp
    Not Applicable
  • github.com https://github.com/moby/moby/security/advisories/GHSA-33pg-m6jh-5237
    MitigationVendor Advisory
  • github.com https://github.com/moby/moby/security/advisories/GHSA-6wrf-mxfj-pf5p
    Not Applicable
  • github.com https://github.com/moby/moby/security/advisories/GHSA-vwm3-crmr-xfxw
    Vendor Advisory
  • lists.fedoraproject.org https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LYZOKMMVX4SIEHPJW3SJUQGMO5YZCPHC/
  • lists.fedoraproject.org https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XNF4OLYZRQE75EB5TW5N42FSXHBXGWFE/
  • lists.fedoraproject.org https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZTE4ITXXPIWZEQ4HYQCB6N6GZIMWXDAI/

Remediation

  • github.com https://github.com/moby/moby/pull/45118
    Issue TrackingPatch