CVE-2023-23947 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2023-23947 affects Argo CD users with any cluster secret update access, potentially allowing them to update out-of-bounds cluster secrets due to an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2023-23947

This vulnerability impacts users of Argo CD, a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. The issue lies in improper authorization, which could enable unauthorized users to update any cluster secret, leading to potential privilege escalation and disruption of Argo CD functionality.

What is CVE-2023-23947?

CVE-2023-23947 is an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability in Argo CD versions starting from 2.3.0-rc1 up to versions prior to 2.3.17, 2.4.23, 2.5.11, and 2.6.2. It allows users with at least one cluster secret update access to manipulate any cluster secret.

The Impact of CVE-2023-23947

The impact of this vulnerability includes potential privilege escalation, control over Kubernetes resources, and disruption of Argo CD functionality by interfering with connections to external clusters.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-23947

This section details the specific technical aspects of the CVE to help users understand the nature of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Argo CD versions mentioned allows unauthorized users with limited cluster secret update access to manipulate any cluster secret, leading to security risks and operational disruptions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Argo CD versions >= 2.3.0-rc1 to < 2.3.17 are affected.
Argo CD versions >= 2.4.0 to < 2.4.23 are affected.
Argo CD versions >= 2.5.0 to < 2.5.11 are affected.
Argo CD versions >= 2.6.0 to < 2.6.2 are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper authorization checks, allowing users with limited permissions to exploit the system and manipulate cluster secrets beyond their designated access.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-23947, users and organizations can take immediate steps and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Two immediate steps to mitigate the vulnerability include modifying the RBAC configuration to revoke all

clusters, update

access or applying restrictions using

destinations

and

clusterResourceWhitelist

fields.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust RBAC policies, regular security audits, and employee training on secure practices can help prevent similar authorization vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Argo CD has released patches for CVE-2023-23947 in versions 2.3.17, 2.4.23, 2.5.11, and 2.6.2. Users are advised to update their Argo CD installations to the patched versions to mitigate the vulnerability and enhance security.