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TI-2023-01678 Aliases CVE-2023-1786GHSA-2vcw-8vc6-xxfw

sensitive data exposure in cloud-init logs

Priority LOW 24CWE-532Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Information disclosure
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · None · None
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 2 fixed, 2 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-532.

Summary

Sensitive data could be exposed in logs of cloud-init before version 23.1.2. An attacker could use this information to find hashed passwords and possibly escalate their privilege.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00263 18th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial cloud-init (Canonical Ltd.): 23.1.2Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 2 fixed, 2 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
Canonicalcloud-initbefore 23.1.223.1.2Patch availableCNA
  • cloud-init VendorCanonical Affected before 23.1.2 Fixed in 23.1.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 8

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:canonical:cloud-init:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 23.1.2VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*16.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*18.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*20.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*22.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.10:*:*:*:-:*:*:*22.10VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:23.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*23.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*38VulnerableFedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:a:canonical:cloud-init:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 23.1.2 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 20.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 22.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.10:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 22.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:23.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 38 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA cloud-init (Canonical Ltd.) Fixed in 23.1.2

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2023:6943 Released 2023-11-14 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    cloud-init security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) cloud-init-23.1.1-10.el8
  • RHSA-2023:6371 Released 2023-11-07 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    cloud-init security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) cloud-init-23.1.1-11.el9

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2023:6943
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2023:6371

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-1786
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2vcw-8vc6-xxfw

References

Patch 1

Advisory 2

Other 1

  • TI-2012-05357 Improper privilege management in cloud-init CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2024-05723 Improper authentication in Canonical cloud-init CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2018-07709 The default cloud-init configuration, in cloud-init 0.6.2 and newer, included… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.1
  • TI-2024-10733 Incorrect permission assignment in Canonical cloud-init CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.9
  • TI-2020-06920 In cloud-init through 19.4, rand_user_password in cloudinit/config/cc_set_passwords.py… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
  • TI-2020-06919 cloud-init through 19.4 relies on Mersenne Twister for a random password, which makes it… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
See all 8 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences