CVE-2019-10144 in rkt
Summary
by MITRE
rkt through version 1.30.0 does not isolate processes in containers that are run with `rkt enter`. Processes run with `rkt enter` are given all capabilities during stage 2 (the actual environment in which the applications run). Compromised containers could exploit this flaw to access host resources.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10144 affects the rkt container runtime system version 1.30.0 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw in process isolation mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically impacts the `rkt enter` command functionality where containers are executed with elevated privileges during the stage 2 execution phase. The core issue stems from the improper capability management within the container execution environment, where processes launched through `rkt enter` are granted all available capabilities instead of being restricted to minimal necessary privileges. This flaw directly violates fundamental container security principles and creates a significant attack surface that allows compromised containers to escape their isolated environment and access underlying host resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the container runtime's privilege escalation mechanism during stage 2 execution. When users execute commands within containers using `rkt enter`, the system fails to properly drop capabilities that would normally be restricted in a secure container environment. This design flaw creates a privilege escalation vector where malicious processes within the container can leverage these excessive capabilities to perform unauthorized operations on the host system. The vulnerability specifically relates to improper privilege separation and capability management, which maps to CWE-250 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, representing "Execute Code with Unnecessary Privileges." The flaw essentially undermines the containerization security model by allowing processes to operate with root-level capabilities that should be restricted to prevent host compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across containerized environments utilizing rkt runtime. An attacker who successfully compromises a container running with `rkt enter` could exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to host resources, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability enables lateral movement attacks where containerized applications become stepping stones for accessing sensitive host data, network resources, and other containerized services. This creates a significant risk in multi-tenant environments where isolation between containers is critical for security. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1059 which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as attackers could leverage the excessive privileges to execute malicious commands and establish persistence on the host system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-10144 require immediate action to address the privilege escalation flaw within the rkt runtime environment. Organizations should upgrade to rkt version 1.31.0 or later where this vulnerability has been patched through proper capability management and privilege isolation. System administrators should implement additional runtime monitoring to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include reviewing and tightening container execution policies to ensure that `rkt enter` commands are not executed with unnecessary privileges. Security teams should also consider implementing container runtime security solutions that can detect and prevent privilege escalation attempts. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected rkt versions and ensure that proper capability dropping mechanisms are in place to prevent unauthorized access to host resources. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege policies for container execution and regularly auditing container capabilities will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.