CVE-2023-25809: rootless: `/sys/fs/cgroup` is writable when cgroupns isn't unshared in runc
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 25/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.31% (FIRST EPSS).
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: opencontainers runc 1.1.5.
Low priority for now. Upgrade to opencontainers runc 1.1.5 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
runc is a CLI tool for spawning and running containers according to the OCI specification. In affected versions it was found that rootless runc makes `/sys/fs/cgroup` writable in following conditons: 1. when runc is executed inside the user namespace, and the `config.json` does not specify the cgroup namespace to be unshared (e.g.., `(docker|podman|nerdctl) run --cgroupns=host`, with Rootless Docker/Podman/nerdctl) or 2. when runc is executed outside the user namespace, and `/sys` is mounted with `rbind, ro` (e.g., `runc spec --rootless`; this condition is very rare). A container may gain the write access to user-owned cgroup hierarchy `/sys/fs/cgroup/user.slice/...` on the host . Other users's cgroup hierarchies are not affected. Users are advised to upgrade to version 1.1.5. Users unable to upgrade may unshare the cgroup namespace (`(docker|podman|nerdctl) run --cgroupns=private)`. This is the default behavior of Docker/Podman/nerdctl on cgroup v2 hosts. or add `/sys/fs/cgroup` to `maskedPaths`.
- Published
- Mar 29, 2023
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.3% · 24th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-281
Report tools
Action score
25
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 25 / 40 · 6.3 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.3%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 6.3
- CNA · GitHub_M
- 5.0
- 1.3 point gap
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Running WordPress? Scan your site free with WP Lens
Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| linuxfoundation | runc | cpe:2.3:a:linuxfoundation:runc |
Using runc? Add it to your stack and be the first to know about CVEs like this one. (Docker)
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- linuxfoundation runcbefore 1.1.5
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
opencontainers runc
- < 1.1.5affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | aardvark-dns | before 2:1.0.1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 2:1.0.1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | aardvark-dns | before 2:1.7.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3657+d86e192f | 2:1.7.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3657+d86e192f |
| AlmaLinux:8 | buildah | before 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | buildah | before 1:1.31.3-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 1:1.31.3-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | buildah-tests | before 1:1.31.3-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 1:1.31.3-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | buildah-tests | before 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | cockpit-podman | before 75-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 75-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | cockpit-podman | before 46-1.module_el8.7.0+3344+5bcd850f | 46-1.module_el8.7.0+3344+5bcd850f |
| AlmaLinux:8 | conmon | before 3:2.1.8-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 3:2.1.8-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | conmon | before 2:2.1.4-2.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 2:2.1.4-2.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | container-selinux | before 2:2.205.0-3.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 2:2.205.0-3.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | container-selinux | before 2:2.221.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 2:2.221.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | containernetworking-plugins | before 1:1.3.0-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 1:1.3.0-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | containernetworking-plugins | before 1:1.1.1-5.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 1:1.1.1-5.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | containers-common | before 2:1-54.module_el8.9.0+3673+0c64b403 | 2:1-54.module_el8.9.0+3673+0c64b403 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | containers-common | before 2:1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 2:1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | crit | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | crit | before 3.18-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 3.18-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | crit | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb |
| AlmaLinux:8 | criu | before 3.18-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 3.18-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | criu | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | criu | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb |
| AlmaLinux:8 | criu-devel | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb |
| AlmaLinux:8 | criu-devel | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 |
+96
Same product
linuxfoundation: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2024-21626runc container breakout through process.cwd trickery and leaked fds40Plan
- CVE-2021-30465runc before 1.0.0-rc95 allows a Container Filesystem Breakout via Directory Traversal.37Monitor
- CVE-2025-52565container escape due to /dev/console mount and related races33Monitor
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2022-29162May 17, 2022 · Incorrect Default Permissions in runc31Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2023-27561Mar 3, 2023 · runc through 1.1.4 has Incorrect Access Control leading to Escalation of Privileges, related to libcontainer/rootfs_linux.go.28Monitor
- Later →CVE-2023-28642Mar 29, 2023 · AppArmor bypass with symlinked /proc in runc31Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| opencontainers runc | 1.1.5 · description | Vendor (CNA) |
| almalinux:aardvark-dns | 2:1.0.1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:buildah | 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:buildah-tests | 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:cockpit-podman | 46-1.module_el8.7.0+3344+5bcd850f · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:conmon | 2:2.1.4-2.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:container-selinux | 2:2.205.0-3.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:containernetworking-plugins | 1:1.1.1-5.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:containers-common | 2:1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:crit | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:criu | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:criu-devel | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:runc | 4:1.1.9-1.el9 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:runc | 1.1.5+ds1-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:github.com/opencontainers/runc | 1.1.5 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:runc | 1.1.5-150000.41.1 · openSUSE:Leap Micro 5.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:aardvark-dns | 2:1.0.1-38.module+el8.9.0+19098+6e7a5e3f · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah | 1:1.24.6-7.module+el8.9.0+19784+443be299 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah-debuginfo | 1:1.24.6-7.module+el8.9.0+19784+443be299 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah-debugsource | 1:1.24.6-7.module+el8.9.0+19784+443be299 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah-tests | 1:1.24.6-7.module+el8.9.0+19784+443be299 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah-tests-debuginfo | 1:1.24.6-7.module+el8.9.0+19784+443be299 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:cockpit-podman | 0:46-1.module+el8.9.0+19098+6e7a5e3f · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:conmon | 2:2.1.4-2.module+el8.9.0+19098+6e7a5e3f · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:conmon-debuginfo | 2:2.1.4-2.module+el8.9.0+19098+6e7a5e3f · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:runc | 4:1.1.9-1.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:runc-debuginfo | 4:1.1.9-1.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:runc-debugsource | 4:1.1.9-1.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:buildah | 1:1.24.6-7.module+el8.9.0+1445+07728297 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:cockpit-podman | 0:46-1.module+el8.9.0+1445+07728297 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
+12
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- low · data can be read
- Integrity
- low · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- low · the service can be disrupted
Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality impact
- Low
- Integrity impact
- Low
- Availability impact
- Low
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-281 · Improper Preservation of PermissionsCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.