`cilium-cli` disables etcd authorization for clustermesh clusters
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Adjacent network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
`cilium-cli` is the command line interface to install, manage, and troubleshoot Kubernetes clusters running Cilium. Prior to version 0.13.2,`cilium-cli`, when used to configure cluster mesh functionality, can remove the enforcement of user permissions on the `etcd` store used to mirror local cluster information to remote clusters. Users who have set up cluster meshes using the Cilium Helm chart are not affected by this issue. Due to an incorrect mount point specification, the settings specified by the `initContainer` that configures `etcd` users and their permissions are overwritten when using `cilium-cli` to configure a cluster mesh. An attacker who has already gained access to a valid key and certificate for an `etcd` cluster compromised in this manner could then modify state in that `etcd` cluster. This issue is patched in `cilium-cli` 0.13.2. As a workaround, one may use Cilium's Helm charts to create their cluster.
Why it matters now
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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cilium | cilium-cli | before 0.13.2 | 0.13.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | github.com/cilium/cilium-cli (Go) | before 0.13.2 | 0.13.2 | Patch available | GHSA-6f27-3p6c-p5jc |
- cilium-cli Vendorcilium Affected before 0.13.2 Fixed in 0.13.2 Patch available CNA
- github.com/cilium/cilium-cli (Go) Vendor— Affected before 0.13.2 Fixed in 0.13.2 Patch available GHSA-6f27-3p6c-p5jc
Remediation
- Fix · CNA cilium-cli (cilium) Fixed in 0.13.2
- Fix · GHSA-6f27-3p6c-p5jc github.com/cilium/cilium-cli (Go) Fixed in 0.13.2 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-28114
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6f27-3p6c-p5jc
References
Advisory 2
Sources
- CVE-2023-28114 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-28114 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6f27-3p6c-p5jc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences