# CVE-2023-2253: GO-2023-1772 - Memory exhaustion in github.com/distribution/distribution

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-2253-distribution-catalog-api-endpoint-can-lead-to-oom-via-malicious  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-05-24  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-2253 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2023-05-24

Memory exhaustion in github.com/distribution/distribution

Technologies: [github.com/distribution/distribution (Go)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/github-com-distribution-distribution), [github.com/docker/distribution (Go)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/github-com-docker-distribution). Vendors: [Go](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/go).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2023-2253 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2023-2253 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2023-2253?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 24 May 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** github.com/distribution/distribution (Go) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=2.8.2-beta.1+incompatible; github.com/docker/distribution (Go) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=2.8.2-beta.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-2253?** Yes. github.com/distribution/distribution (Go): upgrade to 2.8.2-beta.1+incompatible or later; github.com/docker/distribution (Go): upgrade to 2.8.2-beta.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-2253?** Check whether you run github.com/distribution/distribution (Go) or github.com/docker/distribution (Go) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- github.com/distribution/distribution (Go): upgrade to 2.8.2-beta.1+incompatible or later

  ```sh
  go get github.com/distribution/distribution@v2.8.2-beta.1+incompatible
  ```

- github.com/docker/distribution (Go): upgrade to 2.8.2-beta.1 or later

  ```sh
  go get github.com/docker/distribution@v2.8.2-beta.1
  ```


## Affected products

- github.com/distribution/distribution (Go) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=2.8.2-beta.1+incompatible
- github.com/docker/distribution (Go) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=2.8.2-beta.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2023-2253
- GHSA-hqxw-f8mx-cpmw
- GO-2023-1772

## Related threats

- [Docker Distribution client manifests.Get() digest verification bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-85747-distribution-client-manifests-get-does-not-verify-returned)
- [Distribution affected by pull-through cache credential exfiltration via www-authenticate bearer realm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-33540-distribution-affected-by-pull-through-cache-credential)
- [Distribution tag deletion bypasses storage delete configuration](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41888-distribution-tag-deletion-bypasses-storage-delete-configuration)
- [Distribution stale blob access resurrection in Redis cache backend](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35172-distribution-stale-blob-access-resurrection-in-redis-cache)
- [GO-2025-3460 - Distribution's token authentication allows attacker to inject an untrusted signing key in a JWT in…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-24976-go-2025-3460-distribution-s-token-authentication-allows-attacker)