CVE-2023-23939
Azure/setup-kubectl: Escalation of privilege vulnerability for v3 and lower
Published Mar 7, 2023 · corrected/updated Sep 10, 2026 · evidence confidence high
### Impact This vulnerability only impacts versions and lower. An insecure temporary creation of a file allows other actors on the Actions runner to replace the Kubectl binary created by this action because it is world writable. This Kubectl tool installer runs to set permissions on the Kubectl binary, however, this allows any local user to replace the Kubectl binary. This allows privilege escalation to the user that can also run kubectl, most likely root. This attack is only possible if an attacker somehow breached the GitHub actions runner or if a user is utilizing an Action that maliciously executes this attack. No impacted customers have been reported. ### Patches This has been fixed and released in all versions and later. 755 permissions are used instead. ### Workarounds If users absolutely cannot upgrade to or higher than they should be extra diligent of the other GitHub actions they are using in a workflow and ensure that their GitHub actions runner is secure.
Grounded briefings
Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.
Executive
CVE-2023-23939 is a low public vulnerability record for this product. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.
System administrator
Identify whether this product is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: Azure/setup-kubectl (0 → 3). Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.
Security analyst
Signals on file: CVSS 3.0, EPSS 0.4%. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Weakness classes: CWE-732. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, epss, github, osv. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.
Exploitation and remediation
Exploitation evidence
Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in the CISA KEV catalog.
Patch and remediation
No required-action text is stored yet. Use the vendor or CERT links in Sources for patch availability.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Mar 7, 2023 · GitHub Advisory Database
Detected
### Impact This vulnerability only impacts versions and lower. An insecure temporary creation of a file allows other actors on the Actions runner to replace the Kubectl binary created by this action because it is world writable. This Kubectl tool installer runs to set permissions on the Kubectl binary, however, this allows any local user to replace the Kubectl binary. This allows privilege escalat
Sep 10, 2026 · GitHub Advisory Database
Fix available
Azure/setup-kubectl fixed in 3
Sep 10, 2026 · GitHub Advisory Database
Fix available
Azure/setup-kubectl fixed in 3
Sep 10, 2026 · GitHub Advisory Database
Updated
### Impact This vulnerability only impacts versions and lower. An insecure temporary creation of a file allows other actors on the Actions runner to replace the Kubectl binary created by this action because it is world writable. This Kubectl tool installer runs to set permissions on the Kubectl binary, however, this allows any local user to replace the Kubectl binary. This allows privilege escalat
Affected
- GitHub Actions Azure/setup-kubectl0 → 3
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2023-23939
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2023-23939
30-day exploitation probability 0.4%
first.org - GitHub Advisory DatabasePackage advisoryGHSA-p756-rfxh-x63h
GitHub Advisory Database record mirrored by OSV.
github.com - OSV.devPackage advisoryGHSA-p756-rfxh-x63h
Azure/setup-kubectl: Escalation of privilege vulnerability for v3 and lower
osv.dev