OCI image importer memory exhaustion in github.com/containerd/containerd

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

5.5 · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS

• CVE-2023-25153: 0.36% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 30.18 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Impact When importing an OCI image, there was no limit on the number of bytes read for certain files. A maliciously crafted image with a large file where a limit was not applied could cause a denial of service. Patches This bug has been fixed in containerd 1.6.18 and 1.5.18. Users should update to these versions to resolve the issue. Workarounds Ensure that only trusted images are used and that only trusted users have permissions to import images. Credits The containerd project would like to thank David Korczynski and Adam Korczynski of ADA Logics for responsibly disclosing this issue in accordance with the containerd security policy during a security fuzzing audit sponsored by CNCF. For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: Open an issue in containerd Email us at security@containerd.io To report a security issue in containerd: Report a new vulnerability Email us at security@containerd.io

Published by the source

16 Feb 2023, 14:12 UTC

Last modified by the source

6 Sep 2024, 21:37 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 15:05 UTC

1. Revision 1 · created · 26 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-259w-8hf6-59c2

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2023-25153

Advisory: OCI image importer memory exhaustion in github.com/containerd/containerd
IDs: CVE-2023-25153, GHSA-259w-8hf6-59c2
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2023-25153 (revision 1, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 15:05 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 5.5)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: github.com/containerd/containerd 1.6.18, 1.5.18. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- Go github.com/containerd/containerd: affected >= 1.6.0, < 1.6.18; < 1.5.18; fixed in 1.5.18, 1.6.18

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- Go github.com/containerd/containerd: check the installed version with your package manager.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on github.com/containerd/containerd.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-259w-8hf6-59c2 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-259w-8hf6-59c2 lists affected ranges: Go github.com/containerd/containerd >=1.6.0 =0 <1.5.18)

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