Read the docs
TI-2023-19876 Aliases CVE-2023-38496GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx

Apptainer's ineffective privileges drop when requesting container network

Priority LOW 27CWE-269Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Privilege escalation
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · Low · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-269.

Summary

Apptainer is an open source container platform. Version 1.2.0-rc.2 introduced an ineffective privilege drop when requesting container network setup, therefore subsequent functions are called with root privileges, the attack surface is rather limited for users but an attacker could possibly craft a starter config to delete any directory on the host filesystems. A security fix has been included in Apptainer 1.2.1. There is no known workaround outside of upgrading to Apptainer 1.2.1.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.0026 17th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed apptainer (apptainer): 1.2.1github.com/apptainer/apptainer (Go): 1.2.1

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
MLflowapptainer1.2.0-rc.2 to before 1.2.11.2.1Patch availableCNA
—github.com/apptainer/apptainer (Go)1.2.0 to before 1.2.11.2.1Patch availableGHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx
  • apptainer VendorMLflow Affected 1.2.0-rc.2 to before 1.2.1 Fixed in 1.2.1 Patch available CNA
  • github.com/apptainer/apptainer (Go) Vendor— Affected 1.2.0 to before 1.2.1 Fixed in 1.2.1 Patch available GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:lfprojects:apptainer:1.2.0:-:*:*:*:go:*:*1.2.0VulnerableMLflow
cpe:2.3:a:lfprojects:apptainer:1.2.0:rc2:*:*:*:go:*:*1.2.0 rc2VulnerableMLflow
  • cpe:2.3:a:lfprojects:apptainer:1.2.0:-:*:*:*:go:*:* Versions 1.2.0 Vulnerable ·MLflow
  • cpe:2.3:a:lfprojects:apptainer:1.2.0:rc2:*:*:*:go:*:* Versions 1.2.0 rc2 Vulnerable ·MLflow

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA apptainer (apptainer) Fixed in 1.2.1
  • Fix · GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx github.com/apptainer/apptainer (Go) Fixed in 1.2.1 Advisory →

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat's page for this CVE →

Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-38496
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mmx5-32m4-wxvx

References

Patch 3

Advisory 1

Other 1

  • TI-2023-14384 Unpatched extfs vulnerabilities are exploitable through suid-mode Apptainer CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2025-40257 Apptainer ineffective application of selinux and apparmor --security options CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3

Sources

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