CVE-2019-10152 in podman
Summary
by MITRE
A path traversal vulnerability has been discovered in podman before version 1.4.0 in the way it handles symlinks inside containers. An attacker who has compromised an existing container can cause arbitrary files on the host filesystem to be read/written when an administrator tries to copy a file from/to the container.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10152 represents a critical path traversal flaw in podman containerization software affecting versions prior to 1.4.0. This security weakness specifically targets how podman processes symbolic links within containerized environments, creating a privilege escalation vector that allows attackers to bypass container isolation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path resolution logic when handling file operations between host and container filesystems, particularly during copy operations that involve symlink resolution.
This flaw operates through a sophisticated attack vector where an adversary who has already compromised a container can manipulate symlink structures to gain unauthorized access to the host filesystem. When administrators perform file copy operations involving containers, the podman daemon fails to properly sanitize symlink paths, enabling attackers to traverse beyond the intended container boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate container management functions to execute malicious file operations, making detection more challenging. The technical implementation involves improper handling of relative paths and symbolic link resolution during container file I/O operations, which can be exploited to read sensitive host files or write malicious content to critical system locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-10152 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access host configuration files, credentials, and sensitive data stored outside the container environment. The attack requires an initial compromise of a container to establish a foothold, but once achieved, it provides persistent access to host resources. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers exploit container management tools to execute arbitrary commands. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security principle of container isolation, allowing lateral movement from containerized applications to the underlying host system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-10152 primarily focus on immediate software updates to version 1.4.0 or later, which includes proper symlink path validation and enhanced file operation sanitization. Organizations should implement comprehensive container image scanning to identify vulnerable instances and establish strict access controls for container management operations. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary container copy operations, implementing network segmentation between containers and hosts, and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in container runtime environments and highlights the need for security-conscious development practices that address path traversal risks in container orchestration tools. Security teams should also consider implementing container runtime integrity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous file operations consistent with this vulnerability pattern.