CVE-2023-28642

AppArmor bypass via prematurely resolved proc symlink

Published Mar 29, 2023 · Updated Feb 12, 2025

Improper link handling in Open Container Initiative runc before 1.1.5 allows attackers to bypass AppArmor through a crafted container image. During container mount setup, SecureJoin resolves a symlinked /proc before runc checks the destination, so the later directory test no longer detects the link. Exploitation requires an operator or automation to run an untrusted image with the specific mount configuration, after which container processes can evade the intended AppArmor confinement.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link handling in Open Container Initiative runc before 1.1.5 allows attackers to bypass AppArmor through a crafted container image. During container mount setup, SecureJoin resolves a symlinked /proc before runc checks the destination, so the later directory test no longer detects the link. Exploitation requires an operator or automation to run an untrusted image with the specific mount configuration, after which container processes can evade the intended AppArmor confinement.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28642
Published
Mar 29, 2023
Updated
Feb 12, 2025
Vendor
Open Container Initiative
Product
runc
Classifications
CWE-59, CWE-281, T1610
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 29, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 12, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 1.1.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Open Container Initiative · runcversion=< 1.1.5

Published CVSS scores

6.1GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CWE-281Improper Preservation of Permissions
T1610Deploy Container

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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