CVE-2023-28114: `cilium-cli` disables etcd authorization for clustermesh clusters

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2023-28114 is a medium (CVSS 4.8) vulnerability in cilium cilium-cli. EPSS estimates a 0.19% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 8.3% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 22-03-2023
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 25-02-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

`cilium-cli` is the command line interface to install, manage, and troubleshoot Kubernetes clusters running Cilium. Prior to version 0.13.2,`cilium-cli`, when used to configure cluster mesh functionality, can remove the enforcement of user permissions on the `etcd` store used to mirror local cluster information to remote clusters. Users who have set up cluster meshes using the Cilium Helm chart are not affected by this issue. Due to an incorrect mount point specification, the settings specified by the `initContainer` that configures `etcd` users and their permissions are overwritten when using `cilium-cli` to configure a cluster mesh. An attacker who has already gained access to a valid key and certificate for an `etcd` cluster compromised in this manner could then modify state in that `etcd` cluster. This issue is patched in `cilium-cli` 0.13.2. As a workaround, one may use Cilium's Helm charts to create their cluster.

• CWE-280Improper Handling of Insufficient Permissions or PrivilegesThe product does not handle or incorrectly handles when it has insufficient privileges to access resources or functionality as specified by their permissions. This may cause it to follow unexpected code paths that may leave the product in an invalid state.
• CWE-755Improper Handling of Exceptional ConditionsThe product does not handle or incorrectly handles an exceptional condition.