CVE-2014-5278 in Docker
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability exists in Docker before 1.2 via container names, which may collide with and override container IDs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5278 represents a critical flaw in Docker container management systems prior to version 1.2, specifically concerning the handling of container names and their potential collision with container IDs. This issue stems from the fundamental design of Docker's container identification mechanism where container names and IDs share the same namespace, creating a scenario where a malicious user could exploit this overlap to gain unauthorized access or manipulate container operations. The flaw allows for a form of privilege escalation and container hijacking through name collision attacks that directly impacts the integrity and security of containerized environments. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Docker for container orchestration and deployment, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of container isolation and access control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Docker containers are created with names that match existing container IDs, leading to unpredictable behavior in container management operations. When a container name collides with an existing container ID, the system may incorrectly reference or manipulate the wrong container, potentially allowing unauthorized users to access or modify containers they should not have access to. This collision can occur during container creation, listing, or management operations where Docker's internal lookup mechanisms fail to properly distinguish between names and IDs, resulting in a race condition or namespace conflict that can be exploited by attackers. The underlying flaw lies in the insufficient validation and namespace separation within Docker's container identification system, which violates the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5278 extends beyond simple name collision scenarios and can result in significant security breaches within containerized environments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially execute arbitrary code within containers, access sensitive data, or manipulate container configurations by leveraging the name collision to target specific containers. This vulnerability directly impacts container security posture and can lead to data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized access to containerized applications. Organizations running Docker environments before version 1.2 faced heightened risk of container compromise, as the vulnerability could be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors. The impact is particularly severe in multi-tenant environments where container isolation is critical for security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5278 primarily involve upgrading to Docker version 1.2 or later, which includes fixed implementations of container name and ID handling to prevent namespace collisions. Organizations should also implement strict container naming conventions and validation procedures to minimize the risk of accidental collisions, while monitoring container operations for suspicious activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically container escape or privilege escalation through system-level manipulation. Security teams should also consider implementing additional controls such as container runtime monitoring, access logging, and regular vulnerability assessments to detect and prevent exploitation of similar namespace-related vulnerabilities in containerized environments.