Summary
Wasmer filesystem sandbox not enforced
As of Wasmer version v4.2.3, Wasm programs can access the filesystem outside of the sandbox.
Details
https://github.com/wasmerio/wasmer/issues/4267
PoC
A minimal Rust program:
fn main() {
let f = std::fs::OpenOptions::new()
.write(true)
.create_new(true)
.open("abc")
.unwrap();
}
This should be compiled with cargo build --target wasm32-wasi. The compiled program, when run with wasmer WITHOUT --dir, can still create a file in the working directory.
Impact
Service providers running untrusted Wasm code on Wasmer can unexpectedly expose the host filesystem.
CVE-2023-51661 has a CVSS score of 8.4 (High). The vector is requires local access, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (4.2.4); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2023-51661? CVE-2023-51661 is a high-severity security vulnerability in wasmer-cli (rust), affecting versions >= 3.0.0, < 4.2.4. It is fixed in 4.2.4.
- How severe is CVE-2023-51661? CVE-2023-51661 has a CVSS score of 8.4 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of wasmer-cli are affected by CVE-2023-51661? wasmer-cli (rust) versions >= 3.0.0, < 4.2.4 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2023-51661? Yes. CVE-2023-51661 is fixed in 4.2.4. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2023-51661 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-51661 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2023-51661 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2023-51661? Upgrade
wasmer-clito 4.2.4 or later.