CVE-2023-25809: rootless: `/sys/fs/cgroup` is writable when cgroupns isn't unshared in runc

Published Mar 29, 2023
·
Updated

Last updated 24 July 2024

Other sources

runc is a CLI tool for spawning and running containers according to the OCI specification. In affected versions it was found that rootless runc makes /sys/fs/cgroup writable in certain conditions.

References:

https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/security/advisories/GHSA-m8cg-xc2p-r3fc https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/0d62b950e60f6980b54fe3bafd9a9c608dc1df17

— Red Hat

runc is a CLI tool for spawning and running containers according to the OCI specification. In affected versions it was found that rootless runc makes /sys/fs/cgroup writable in following conditons: 1. when runc is executed inside the user namespace, and the config.json does not specify the cgroup namespace to be unshared (e.g.., (docker|podman|nerdctl) run --cgroupns=host, with Rootless Docker/Podman/nerdctl) or 2. when runc is executed outside the user namespace, and /sys is mounted with rbind, ro (e.g., runc spec --rootless; this condition is very rare). A container may gain the write access to user-owned cgroup hierarchy /sys/fs/cgroup/user.slice/... on the host . Other users's cgroup hierarchies are not affected. Users are advised to upgrade to version 1.1.5. Users unable to upgrade may unshare the cgroup namespace ((docker|podman|nerdctl) run --cgroupns=private). This is the default behavior of Docker/Podman/nerdctl on cgroup v2 hosts. or add /sys/fs/cgroup to maskedPaths.

— Launchpad

Affected Software

11 affected componentsFixes available
linuxfoundation Runc<1.1.5
debian/runc<=1.0.0~rc93+ds1-5+deb11u3
1.0.0~rc93+ds1-5+deb11u51.1.5+ds1-1+deb12u11.1.15+ds1-2
redhat/runc<1.1.5
1.1.5
alpine/runc<1.1.5-r0
1.1.5-r0
alpine/runc<1.1.4-r0
1.1.4-r0
alpine/runc<1.1.4-r0
1.1.4-r0
alpine/runc<1.1.4-r0
1.1.4-r0
alpine/runc<1.1.4-r0
1.1.4-r0
alpine/runc<1.1.4-r0
1.1.4-r0
alpine/runc<1.1.4-r0
1.1.4-r0
alpine/runc<1.1.4-r0
1.1.4-r0

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/runc to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.0.0~rc93+ds1-5+deb11u5Fixed in 1.1.5+ds1-1+deb12u1Fixed in 1.1.15+ds1-2
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/runc to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.1.5
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/runc to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.1.5-r0
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/runc to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.1.4-r0
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade opencontainers/runc to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.1.5
  6. Configuration

    Unshare the cgroup namespace by running containers with --cgroupns=private, for example: (docker|podman|nerdctl) run --cgroupns=private

    runc cgroup namespace = private
  7. Configuration

    Add /sys/fs/cgroup to maskedPaths

    runc maskedPaths = /sys/fs/cgroup

Event History

Mar 29, 2023
CVE Published
via MITRE·06:22 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·06:22 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via OSV·07:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2023-25809?

CVE-2023-25809 is a vulnerability in the runc CLI tool that allows rootless runc to make /sys/fs/cgroup writable under certain conditions.

2

How does CVE-2023-25809 affect runc?

CVE-2023-25809 affects runc by making /sys/fs/cgroup writable when runc is executed inside the user namespace and the config.json does not specify the cgroup.

3

What is the severity of CVE-2023-25809?

CVE-2023-25809 has a severity rating of medium.

4

How can I fix CVE-2023-25809 on Red Hat?

To fix CVE-2023-25809 on Red Hat, update runc to version 1.1.5 or newer.

5

How can I fix CVE-2023-25809 on Ubuntu 18.04?

To fix CVE-2023-25809 on Ubuntu 18.04, update runc to version 1.1.4-0ubuntu1~18.04.2 or newer.

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