## Summary

IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service is affected by a security vulnerability found in containerd’s CRI implementation where programs inside a container can cause the containerd daemon to consume memory without bound during invocation of the ExecSync API. This can cause containerd to consume all available memory on the computer, denying service to other legitimate workloads (CVE-2022-31030).

## Vulnerability Details

CVEID: [CVE-2022-31030]()
Description: containerd is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by a flaw in the CRI implementation. By sending a specially-crafted request using the ExecSync API, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause containerd to consume all available memory on the computer, and results in a denial of service condition.
CVSS Base Score: 7.5
CVSS Temporal Score: for more information
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)

## Affected Products and Versions

IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service 1.24-1.24.1_1522
IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service 1.23-1.23.7_1532
IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service 1.22-1.22.10_1554
IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service 1.21-1.21.13_1562
IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service 1.5-1.20

## Remediation/Fixes

Updates for IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service cluster worker nodes at version 1.21 or later are available that fix this vulnerability. Customers must update worker nodes created before the fix was available to address the vulnerability. See [updating worker nodes]() for details on updating worker nodes. To verify your cluster worker nodes have been updated, use the following IBM Cloud CLI command to confirm the currently running versions:

ibmcloud ks workers –cluster

If the versions are at one of the following patch levels or later, the cluster worker nodes have the fix:

[1.24.2_1526]()
[1.23.8_1534]()
[1.22.11_1556]()
[1.21.14_1564]()

Customers running IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service clusters at version 1.20 must upgrade to version 1.21. Please review the [documentation]() before starting an upgrade since additional actions may be required.

Customers running IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service clusters at version 1.19 or earlier must [create a new cluster]() and [deploy their apps]() to the new cluster.

IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service versions 1.20 and earlier are no longer supported. See the [IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service version information and update actions documentation]() for more information about Kubernetes versions and version support policies.

## Monitor IBM Cloud Status for Future Security Bulletins

Monitor the [security notifications]() on the IBM Cloud Status page to be advised of future security bulletins.

### References

[Complete CVSS v3 Guide]( “Link resides outside of ibm.com” )
[On-line Calculator v3]( “Link resides outside of ibm.com” )

Off

[CVE-2022-31030: containerd CRI plugin: Host memory exhaustion through ExecSync ]()

## Related Information

[IBM Secure Engineering Web Portal]()
[IBM Product Security Incident Response Blog]()

*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.

## Disclaimer

According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an “industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response.” IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES “”AS IS”” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY. In addition to other efforts to address potential vulnerabilities, IBM periodically updates the record of components contained in our product offerings. As part of that effort, if IBM identifies previously unidentified packages in a product/service inventory, we address relevant vulnerabilities regardless of CVE date. Inclusion of an older CVEID does not demonstrate that the referenced product has been used by IBM since that date, nor that IBM was aware of a vulnerability as of that date. We are making clients aware of relevant vulnerabilities as we become aware of them. “Affected Products and Versions” referenced in IBM Security Bulletins are intended to be only products and versions that are supported by IBM and have not passed their end-of-support or warranty date. Thus, failure to reference unsupported or extended-support products and versions in this Security Bulletin does not constitute a determination by IBM that they are unaffected by the vulnerability. Reference to one or more unsupported versions in this Security Bulletin shall not create an obligation for IBM to provide fixes for any unsupported or extended-support products or versions.

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