CVE-2023-45823 in Artifact Hub
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Artifact Hub is a web-based application that enables finding, installing, and publishing packages and configurations for CNCF projects. During a security audit of Artifact Hub's code base a security researcher identified a bug in which by using symbolic links in certain kinds of repositories loaded into Artifact Hub, it was possible to read internal files. Artifact Hub indexes content from a variety of sources, including git repositories. When processing git based repositories, Artifact Hub clones the repository and, depending on the artifact kind, reads some files from it. During this process, in some cases, no validation was done to check if the file was a symbolic link. This made possible to read arbitrary files in the system, potentially leaking sensitive information. This issue has been resolved in version `1.16.0`. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45823 affects Artifact Hub, a web-based application designed for discovering, installing, and publishing packages and configurations for Cloud Native Computing Foundation projects. This security flaw emerged during a comprehensive security audit of the application's codebase, highlighting a critical oversight in the processing of repository content. Artifact Hub functions by indexing content from multiple sources including git repositories, making it a central hub for CNCF project artifacts and configurations. The application's architecture involves cloning git repositories and subsequently reading specific files from these repositories to populate its index and provide users with relevant package information.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within Artifact Hub's repository processing pipeline. When handling git-based repositories, the system performs repository cloning operations followed by file reading processes depending on the artifact type being indexed. The vulnerability specifically occurs when symbolic links are present within these repositories, as the application fails to validate whether files being read are actually symbolic links rather than regular files. This validation gap creates a path traversal condition where attackers can manipulate repository content to include symbolic links pointing to internal system files. The absence of proper link resolution checks allows the application to follow these symbolic links and read arbitrary files from the underlying system, potentially exposing sensitive data and system information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on Artifact Hub for package management and distribution. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive files including configuration data, credentials, and other internal system information that might otherwise remain protected. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Artifact Hub's repository indexing mechanism, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire package management ecosystem. Given that Artifact Hub serves as a critical interface for CNCF project artifacts, this flaw could enable adversaries to access and potentially manipulate package content, affecting the trustworthiness of the software distribution pipeline.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-352 Cross-Site Request Forgery patterns, representing a classic file system traversal issue where symbolic links are not properly handled during file access operations. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, as it enables unauthorized access to system files that would normally be restricted. Organizations using Artifact Hub versions prior to 1.16.0 face significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability allows for arbitrary file reading without requiring authentication or specific privileges. The fix implemented in version 1.16.0 addresses the root cause by introducing proper validation of symbolic links during repository processing, ensuring that any symbolic link encountered is properly resolved or rejected before file access operations occur.
The remediation approach for CVE-2023-45823 requires immediate upgrading to Artifact Hub version 1.16.0 or later, as no workarounds exist for this particular vulnerability. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their Artifact Hub deployments to identify systems running vulnerable versions and implement the necessary updates as part of their patch management processes. Organizations should also review their repository indexing policies and consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious symbolic link usage in repositories. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and file system access controls in web applications, particularly those designed to process external content from untrusted sources. Given the nature of the flaw, regular security audits of repository processing pipelines should become standard practice to prevent similar issues from emerging in other components of the software supply chain infrastructure.