CVE-2023-1668: A flaw was found in openvswitch (OVS)

This month

HIGH 8.2REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2023-1668 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.2) affecting open vswitch, debian linux, openshift container platform. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A flaw was found in openvswitch (OVS). When processing an IP packet with protocol 0, OVS will install the datapath flow without the action modifying the IP header. This issue results (for both kernel and userspace datapath) in installing a datapath flow matching all IP protocols (nw_proto is wildcarded) for this flow, but with an incorrect action, possibly causing incorrect handling of other IP packets with a != 0 IP protocol that matches this dp

Why this priority

High severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.2 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.2% (top 31%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-670
Published	2023-04-10
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: cloudbase · debian · redhat

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-04-10 22:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 05:28 UTCUpdated Record last modified

cloudbase open vswitch UPGRADE

Affected: >= 1.5.0 and < 2.13.11 · >= 2.14.0 and < 2.14.9 · >= 2.15.0 and < 2.15.8 · >= 2.16.0 and < 2.16.7 · >= 2.17.0 and < 2.17.6 · >= 3.0.0 and < 3.0.4 · 3.1.0

Fixed in: 2.13.11, 2.14.9, 2.15.8, 2.16.7, 2.17.6, 3.0.4

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.5.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy open-vswitch || rpm -q open-vswitch || open-vswitch --version

2. UPGRADE to 2.13.11 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade open-vswitch

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade open-vswitch

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.5.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison open-vswitch sudo apt install open-vswitch=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.5.0> sudo apt-mark hold open-vswitch

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list open-vswitch sudo dnf downgrade open-vswitch-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.5.0> sudo dnf versionlock add open-vswitch

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 11.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat openshift container platform DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy openshift-container-platform || rpm -q openshift-container-platform || openshift-container-platform --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison openshift-container-platform sudo apt install openshift-container-platform=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo apt-mark hold openshift-container-platform

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list openshift-container-platform sudo dnf downgrade openshift-container-platform-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add openshift-container-platform

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

redhat openstack platform DOWNGRADE

Affected: 16.1 · 16.2 · 17.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 16.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy openstack-platform || rpm -q openstack-platform || openstack-platform --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 16.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison openstack-platform sudo apt install openstack-platform=<VERSION_BEFORE_16.1> sudo apt-mark hold openstack-platform

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list openstack-platform sudo dnf downgrade openstack-platform-<VERSION_BEFORE_16.1> sudo dnf versionlock add openstack-platform

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

redhat virtualization DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy virtualization || rpm -q virtualization || virtualization --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison virtualization sudo apt install virtualization=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo apt-mark hold virtualization

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list virtualization sudo dnf downgrade virtualization-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add virtualization

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

redhat fast datapath MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy fast-datapath || rpm -q fast-datapath || fast-datapath --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-1668?

open vswitch: upgrade to 2.13.11, 2.14.9, 2.15.8, 2.16.7, 2.17.6, 3.0.4; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; openshift container platform: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-1668 being exploited?

CVE-2023-1668 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2023-1668 affect?

CVE-2023-1668 affects open vswitch, debian linux, openshift container platform. Severity is high (CVSS 8.2). A flaw was found in openvswitch (OVS). When processing an IP packet with protocol 0, OVS will install the datapath flow without the action modifying the IP header. This issue results (for both kernel and userspace datapath) in installing a

How urgent is CVE-2023-1668?

Priority 56/100. High severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities · Red Hat OpenShift vulnerabilities · OpenStack vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2022-32166 MEDIUM 6.1 UPGRADE MITIGATE In ovs versions v0.90.0 through v2.5.0 are vulnerable to heap buffer over-read in flow.c

References

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