CVE-2023-6019 in ray
Summary
by MITRE • 11/16/2023
A command injection exists in Ray's cpu_profile URL parameter allowing attackers to execute os commands on the system running the ray dashboard remotely without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6019 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Ray distributed computing framework's dashboard component. This issue specifically affects the cpu_profile URL parameter which fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for remote code execution on systems running the Ray dashboard. The absence of authentication requirements for exploitation significantly amplifies the severity of this vulnerability, as attackers can leverage it without prior system access credentials. The Ray framework is widely used for machine learning and distributed computing workloads, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations deploying these systems in production environments.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the cpu_profile parameter processing logic. When the dashboard receives a request containing a maliciously crafted cpu_profile parameter, the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as shell commands. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary operating system commands that execute with the privileges of the user running the Ray dashboard process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into operating system commands without proper sanitization. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary commands including but not limited to file system operations, network reconnaissance, privilege escalation, or even system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-6019 extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass broader security implications for affected organizations. Since the vulnerability enables remote unauthenticated execution, attackers can potentially gain complete control over systems running Ray dashboard components without requiring any prior access credentials. This represents a significant risk for environments where Ray dashboards are exposed to untrusted networks or where default configurations leave the dashboard accessible without proper authentication mechanisms. Organizations utilizing Ray for distributed computing, machine learning pipelines, or data processing workflows face potential data breaches, system compromise, and denial of service conditions. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where dashboard access is not properly restricted through firewall rules, reverse proxies, or authentication layers, creating an attack surface that can be exploited from external networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-6019 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Ray versions to address the command injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement network-level controls such as firewall rules and access control lists to restrict direct access to Ray dashboard ports and services. The use of reverse proxies with proper authentication mechanisms can provide an additional layer of protection by requiring valid credentials before accessing dashboard functionality. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious parameter values in URL requests and establish network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1059.001, command and script injection represents a common attack vector that organizations should defend against through proper input validation, least privilege execution, and comprehensive network monitoring. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other components of the Ray ecosystem and ensure overall system security posture remains strong against evolving threats.