CVE-2023-48311Network attack vector

Arbitrary container launch via empty image allowlist

Published Dec 8, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Improper input validation in JupyterHub DockerSpawner 0.11.0 through 12.1.0 allows remote authenticated users to launch arbitrary container images. With allowed_images unset, check_allowed treats the empty collection as permission to return any user-supplied image rather than rejecting it. Any authenticated JupyterHub user who can supply image options can run any pullable image, exposing container data and operations permitted by the deployment.

CVSS severity8.0
High
EPSS probability0.64%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in JupyterHub DockerSpawner 0.11.0 through 12.1.0 allows remote authenticated users to launch arbitrary container images. With allowed_images unset, check_allowed treats the empty collection as permission to return any user-supplied image rather than rejecting it. Any authenticated JupyterHub user who can supply image options can run any pullable image, exposing container data and operations permitted by the deployment.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-48311
Published
Dec 8, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
JupyterHub
Product
DockerSpawner
Classifications
CWE-20, T1610
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 0.11.0, < 13.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

JupyterHub · DockerSpawnerversion=>= 0.11.0, < 13.0

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
8.0GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo