Possible image tampering from missing image validation for Packages (CVE-2023-38495) | HOL Guard CVE

High · CVSS 8.3CVE-2023-38495GHSA-PJ4X-2XR5-W87M

Possible image tampering from missing image validation for Packages

Answer in brief

CVE-2023-38495 records a High severity (CVSS 8.3) vulnerability in Possible image tampering from missing image validation for Packages. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps github.com/crossplane/crossplane (go), github.com/crossplane/crossplane (go). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Jul 28, 2023Updated Sep 10, 2026Source checked Sep 10, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 10, 2026Material review Sep 10, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: High · CVSS 8.3
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 2 mapped packages or products
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 8.3. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps github.com/crossplane/crossplane (go), github.com/crossplane/crossplane (go). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
github.com/crossplane/crossplanego	>=0 <1.11.5	1.11.5
github.com/crossplane/crossplanego	>=1.12.0 <1.12.3	1.12.3

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for github.com/crossplane/crossplane, github.com/crossplane/crossplane.
Review the reported fix. Update github.com/crossplane/crossplane to 1.11.5; github.com/crossplane/crossplane to 1.12.3 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Jul 28, 2023
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 10, 2026
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 10, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

### Impact Crossplanes image backend does not validate the byte contents of Crossplane packages. As such, Crossplane does not detect if an attacker has tampered with a Package. ### Patches The problem has been fixed in 1.11.5, 1.12.3 and 1.13.0, all the supported versions of Crossplane at the time of writing. ### Workarounds Only using images from trusted sources and keeping Package editing/creating privileges to administrators only, which should be both considered already best practices. ### References See `ADA-XP-23-11` in the Security Audit's [report](https://github.com/crossplane/crossplane/blob/ac8b24fe739c5d942ea885157148497f196c3dd3/security/ADA-security-audit-23.pdf). ### Credits This was reported as `ADA-XP-23-11` by @AdamKorcz and @DavidKorczynski from Ada Logic and facilitated by OSTIF as part of the Security Audit sponsored by CNCF.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.