CVE-2016-1582 in lsd
Summary
by MITRE
LXD before 2.0.2 does not properly set permissions when switching an unprivileged container into privileged mode, which allows local users to access arbitrary world readable paths in the container directory via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1582 affects LXD versions prior to 2.0.2 and represents a critical permission escalation flaw within container management systems. This issue specifically manifests when transitioning unprivileged containers into privileged mode, where the system fails to correctly establish appropriate access controls. The flaw enables local attackers with access to the container environment to bypass security restrictions and gain access to world-readable files within the container directory structure. This vulnerability directly impacts the fundamental security model of container isolation, undermining the trust boundaries that containerization technologies rely upon for security enforcement.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper permission handling during the privilege switching process in LXD's container management framework. When an unprivileged container is switched to privileged mode, the system should enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized file system access. However, the flaw allows attackers to exploit unspecified vectors that bypass these permission checks, enabling them to traverse the container's file system and access files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level where container filesystem permissions are managed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges from the host system. This type of flaw typically falls under the CWE-276 category of improper permissions and access control, specifically addressing inadequate privilege management during mode transitions.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1582 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to access sensitive configuration files, logs, and potentially other containerized applications' data. Local users within a container can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges and gain access to resources that should be isolated from the container's unprivileged user context. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only local access to the container environment, meaning that any user with access to the container can exploit this flaw. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local privilege escalation mechanisms, and represents a significant threat to container security orchestration frameworks. The implications are severe for cloud environments and containerized applications where multiple users may share the same host system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1582 require immediate system updates to LXD version 2.0.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly handle permission settings during privilege transitions. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring and access controls around container directories to detect unauthorized access attempts. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of container configurations to ensure that privilege switching operations are properly enforced and that access controls are maintained. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege management in containerized environments and reinforces the need for regular security updates and vulnerability assessments. Security teams should also consider implementing container runtime security solutions that can detect and prevent unauthorized access patterns, as this flaw demonstrates how improper permission handling can compromise entire container ecosystems. Organizations using older LXD versions should prioritize immediate upgrades and implement compensating controls until the patch can be deployed.