CVE-2023-7258 in Gvisor
Summary
by MITRE • 05/15/2024
A denial of service exists in Gvisor Sandbox where a bug in reference counting code in mount point tracking could lead to a panic, making it possible for an attacker running as root and with permission to mount volumes to kill the sandbox. We recommend upgrading past commit 6a112c60a257dadac59962e0bc9e9b5aee70b5b6
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-7258 represents a critical denial of service condition within the gVisor sandbox environment that operates as a container runtime security solution. This issue stems from a fundamental flaw in the reference counting mechanism used for tracking mount points within the sandboxed execution environment. The gVisor project provides a userspace kernel implementation designed to enhance container security by isolating container processes from the host kernel, making such vulnerabilities particularly concerning for containerized environments where security boundaries are paramount.
The technical flaw manifests in the mount point tracking subsystem where improper reference counting leads to system instability and potential panic conditions. When an attacker with root privileges and mount permissions executes malicious operations against the sandboxed environment, the flawed reference counting code can cause the gVisor sandbox to enter an unrecoverable state, resulting in a system panic. This panic effectively terminates the sandbox process and renders the containerized application unavailable, constituting a denial of service attack against the container runtime infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically impacts scenarios where the sandbox handles mount operations, making it particularly relevant for container orchestration platforms that rely on gVisor for enhanced security isolation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption as it compromises the fundamental security model of gVisor-based container deployments. Attackers who can escalate to root privileges within a container environment can leverage this weakness to disrupt containerized applications and potentially cause cascading failures in container orchestration systems. The attack vector requires only root access and mount permissions, which are commonly available in many containerized environments, making this vulnerability exploitable in realistic threat scenarios. This weakness directly impacts the availability and reliability of containerized applications that depend on gVisor for security isolation, potentially affecting critical business operations and service availability.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which addresses NULL pointer dereferences and improper reference counting issues, while also relating to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network disruption through resource exhaustion or system instability. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading the gVisor implementation past commit 6a112c60a257dadac59962e0bc9e9b5aee70b5b6, which contains the necessary fixes to address the reference counting anomaly. Organizations should prioritize this upgrade across all gVisor-based deployments, particularly in environments where container security and availability are critical factors. Additionally, monitoring for unusual mount operations and implementing proper access controls can help reduce the attack surface while awaiting the official patch deployment. The vulnerability underscores the importance of rigorous code review processes for reference counting mechanisms in security-critical systems and highlights the potential for seemingly minor implementation flaws to result in significant operational disruptions.