CVE-2023-39347: Kubernetes users may update Pod labels to bypass network policy in github.com/cilium/cilium
Summary
CVE-2023-39347: Kubernetes users may update Pod labels to bypass network policy in github.com/cilium/cilium. Affects github.com/cilium/cilium across 3 version ranges.
< 1.12.14
>= 1.13.0, < 1.13.7
>= 1.14.0, < 1.14.2
Fixed in 1.12.14, 1.13.7 or 1.14.2, depending on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- hubble-ui · Bitnami
- hubble-ui-backend · Bitnami
- cilium-proxy · Bitnami
- hubble · Bitnami
- hubble-relay · Bitnami
- cilium · Bitnami
- cilium-operator · Bitnami
The same CVE-2023-39347 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
github.com/cilium/cilium is a Go package that provides networking and security services for Kubernetes. It is used to enforce network policies and control traffic between pods in a Kubernetes cluster. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in this package that allows Kubernetes users to update Pod labels and bypass network policies.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in github.com/cilium/cilium allows unauthorized users to update Pod labels, which can be used to bypass network policies. This means that an attacker can modify the labels of a Pod to make it appear as if it belongs to a different network policy or has different access permissions. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive resources or the ability to bypass security controls.
How To Fix
Latest published version: v1.20.3 as of 22 Oct 2026
go get github.com/cilium/cilium@v1.20.3Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the versions below are the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you can't move to the latest
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
< 1.12.141.12.14go get github.com/cilium/cilium@v1.12.14 -
>= 1.13.0, < 1.13.71.13.7go get github.com/cilium/cilium@v1.13.7 -
>= 1.14.0, < 1.14.21.14.2go get github.com/cilium/cilium@v1.14.2
Tip — Not sure which release line you're on? Vulert can find the fix for the version you are using. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the fixed versions of github.com/cilium/cilium as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in github.com/cilium/cilium allows unauthorized users to bypass network policies by updating Pod labels. To mitigate this issue, users should update to the fixed versions of the package as soon as possible.
See every vulnerability recorded for github.com/cilium/cilium →
FAQ
github.com/cilium/cilium is a Go package that provides networking and security services for Kubernetes.
This vulnerability allows unauthorized users to bypass network policies and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive resources.
To fix this vulnerability, update to version 1.12.14, 1.13.7, or 1.14.2 of github.com/cilium/cilium.
There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the fixed versions of github.com/cilium/cilium.
More information about this vulnerability can be found at the following URL: https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2023-2078
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