# CVE-2023-27290: IBM Observability with Instana missing authentication

> Network attackers can access IBM Instana Docker datastores without authentication, allowing unauthorized read and write access to sensitive data.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Mar 2023
- **Updated:** 5 Mar 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g98m-73rh-c5j6

## What is CVE-2023-27290?

CVE-2023-27290 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in IBM Observability with Instana, published on 3 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Docker based datastores for IBM Instana (IBM Observability with Instana 239-0 through 239-2, 241-0 through 241-2, and 243-0) do not currently require authentication. Due to this, an attacker within the network could access the datastores with read/write access.  IBM X-Force ID:  248737.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-27290?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Observability With Instana.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-27290?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-27290 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-27290 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-27290 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Docker based datastores for IBM Instana 241-2 243-0 - No Authentication (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM Observability with Instana

- [CVE-2023-37404](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37404/): IBM Observability with Instana code execution (medium 6.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-27290 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-27290 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in IBM Observability with Instana, published on 3 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-27290 exists.

Affected product: IBM Observability with Instana. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27290/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27290/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-27290
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-27290
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-27290

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27290/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.