CVE-2011-3180 in kiwi
Summary
by MITRE
kiwi before 4.98.08, as used in SUSE Studio Onsite 1.2 before 1.2.1 and SUSE Studio Extension for System z 1.2 before 1.2.1, allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the path of an overlay file, related to chown.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3180 represents a critical command injection flaw within the kiwi packaging system that was widely utilized in SUSE Studio environments. This issue specifically affects versions prior to 4.98.08 and impacts SUSE Studio Onsite 1.2 versions before 1.2.1 and SUSE Studio Extension for System z 1.2 versions before 1.2.1. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation during the processing of overlay file paths, creating a dangerous condition where maliciously crafted path names can be exploited to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system.
The technical flaw manifests in the chown command execution process within the kiwi system where shell metacharacters embedded within overlay file paths are not properly sanitized or escaped before being processed. When the system attempts to set ownership of files using chown, it directly incorporates user-supplied path information into shell commands without adequate sanitization measures. This creates a classic command injection vulnerability where attackers can manipulate the execution flow by embedding shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks within the file path, effectively allowing arbitrary command execution with the privileges of the kiwi process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for organizations using affected SUSE Studio environments. An attacker who can influence the creation or modification of overlay files can execute commands with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where overlay files are generated through user input or imported from untrusted sources, as it allows for remote code execution without requiring authentication. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3180 require immediate patching of the affected kiwi versions to 4.98.08 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and escaping mechanisms for shell command execution. Organizations should implement strict input validation for all overlay file paths and ensure that any user-supplied path information is properly escaped before being used in system commands. Additionally, access controls should be enforced to limit who can create or modify overlay files within the SUSE Studio environment, reducing the attack surface. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns and establish proper separation of privileges to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that shell metacharacters are properly escaped or removed from file paths before they are processed by the chown command, thereby preventing the injection of malicious commands into the system execution flow.