CVE-2018-12678 in Portainer
Summary
by MITRE
Portainer before 1.18.0 supports unauthenticated requests to the websocket endpoint with an unvalidated id query parameter for the /websocket/exec endpoint, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions or conduct SSRF attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12678 affects Portainer versions prior to 1.18.0 and represents a critical security flaw in the container management platform's websocket endpoint implementation. This issue stems from insufficient input validation within the /websocket/exec endpoint where the id query parameter is not properly validated, creating a pathway for unauthorized access and potential exploitation. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication mechanisms that should normally protect sensitive websocket operations, allowing malicious actors to bypass intended access controls through crafted requests.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of the id parameter within the websocket endpoint, which serves as a critical authentication bypass mechanism. When Portainer processes websocket connections for container execution commands, it fails to validate the id parameter that identifies the target container or resource. This validation gap enables attackers to manipulate the parameter value and gain access to resources that should require proper authentication. The vulnerability falls under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and specifically relates to CWE-915, which covers insufficiently protected credentials during dynamic code execution. The lack of input sanitization creates an environment where unauthenticated requests can be processed with elevated privileges, effectively undermining the platform's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors including server-side request forgery attacks. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to perform SSRF (Server-Side Request Forgery) operations, potentially allowing them to access internal services or resources that would normally be isolated from external networks. The vulnerability affects organizations using Portainer for container orchestration and management, particularly those operating in environments where containerized applications interact with internal systems. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain insights into internal network topology, access sensitive data, or escalate privileges within the container environment. This represents a significant concern for enterprises that rely on Portainer for managing their containerized infrastructure, as it could lead to complete compromise of the container management platform and potentially the underlying infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Portainer version 1.18.0 or later to address this vulnerability, as the fix implements proper validation of the id parameter in the websocket endpoint. The mitigation strategy should also include network-level restrictions on access to the websocket endpoint, implementing additional authentication layers, and monitoring for suspicious websocket connections. Security teams should review their container orchestration environments for any signs of exploitation attempts and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious websocket requests. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of validating all inputs in web applications, particularly in endpoints that handle sensitive operations, and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication mechanisms. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their container management platforms to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their infrastructure.