TI-2023-19875 Aliases CVE-2023-38495 GHSA-pj4x-2xr5-w87m

Crossplane vulnerable to possible image tampering from missing image validation for Packages

MEDIUM 44CWE-20Published 2023-07-27 · Updated 2024-10-10

Key facts

Attack vector: Network
Privileges required: None
User interaction: None
Attack complexity: Low
Impact type: —
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: High · High · High
Fix status: Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.

Summary

Crossplane is a framework for building cloud native control planes without needing to write code. In versions prior to 1.11.5, 1.12.3, and 1.13.0, Crossplane's image backend does not validate the byte contents of Crossplane packages. As such, Crossplane does not detect if an attacker has tampered with a Package. The problem has been fixed in 1.11.5, 1.12.3 and 1.13.0. As a workaround, only use images from trusted sources and keep Package editing/creating privileges to administrators only.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.00836 57th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD

Fix Fixed crossplane (crossplane): 1.11.5, 1.12.3github.com/crossplane/crossplane (Go): 1.11.5, 1.12.3

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation: None
Automatable: No
Technical impact: Total

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
crossplane	crossplane	before 1.11.5; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.3	1.11.5, 1.12.3	Patch available	CNA
—	github.com/crossplane/crossplane (Go)	before 1.11.5	1.11.5	Patch available	GHSA-pj4x-2xr5-w87m
—	github.com/crossplane/crossplane (Go)	1.12.0 to before 1.12.3	1.12.3	Patch available	GHSA-pj4x-2xr5-w87m

crossplane Vendorcrossplane Affected before 1.11.5; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.3 Fixed in 1.11.5, 1.12.3 Patch available CNA
github.com/crossplane/crossplane (Go) Vendor— Affected before 1.11.5 Fixed in 1.11.5 Patch available GHSA-pj4x-2xr5-w87m
github.com/crossplane/crossplane (Go) Vendor— Affected 1.12.0 to before 1.12.3 Fixed in 1.12.3 Patch available GHSA-pj4x-2xr5-w87m

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:cncf:crossplane::::::::	before 1.11.5; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.3	Vulnerable	Cncf

cpe:2.3:a:cncf:crossplane:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.11.5; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.3 Vulnerable ·Cncf

Remediation

Fix · CNA crossplane (crossplane) Fixed in 1.11.5, 1.12.3
Fix · GHSA-pj4x-2xr5-w87m github.com/crossplane/crossplane (Go) Fixed in 1.11.5 Advisory →
Fix · GHSA-pj4x-2xr5-w87m github.com/crossplane/crossplane (Go) Fixed in 1.12.3 Advisory →

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-38495
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pj4x-2xr5-w87m

References

Exploit 1

https://github.com/crossplane/crossplane/blob/ac8b24fe739c5d942ea885157148497f196c3dd3/security/ADA-security-audit-23.pdf

Advisory 2

Other 1

https://github.com/crossplane/crossplane

TI-2026-67558 crossplane crossplane-runtime ImageConfig client.go Get toctou CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
TI-2023-12211 fieldpath's Paved.SetValue allows growing arrays up to arbitrary sizes in crossplane-runtime CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
TI-2023-12212 Unchecked fieldpath index in Composition's patches can lead to arbitrary memory allocation in crossplane CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.2
TI-2023-19333 Crossplane vulnerable to denial of service from large image CVSS 3.1LOW 3.4

Sources

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