CVE-2019-16872 in Portainer
Summary
by MITRE
Portainer before 1.22.1 has Incorrect Access Control (issue 1 of 4).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2024
Portainer is a popular web-based management interface for Docker environments that allows users to manage containers, images, networks, and volumes through a graphical user interface. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16872 represents a critical access control flaw that affects versions prior to 1.22.1, specifically categorized under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the application's authentication and authorization framework, creating a scenario where authenticated users can potentially escalate their privileges or access resources they should not be authorized to view or modify.
The technical implementation of this access control flaw manifests in the application's handling of user roles and permissions during API requests and web interface interactions. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate session tokens or make direct API calls to perform actions beyond their intended user scope, effectively bypassing the role-based access control system that should restrict users to their designated permissions. This issue is particularly concerning because it affects the core security architecture of Portainer, potentially allowing malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive container environments, modify configurations, or even execute arbitrary commands on the underlying Docker hosts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model that Portainer relies upon to protect containerized environments. Organizations using affected versions of Portainer may find their Docker infrastructure at risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, or compromise of container workloads. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors, particularly in environments where Portainer is deployed with elevated privileges or when multiple users share the same management interface. This flaw directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can result in significant damage to container orchestration environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-16872 require immediate patching to Portainer version 1.22.1 or later, which includes comprehensive fixes for the access control implementation. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to Portainer interfaces, enforce strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication, and regularly audit user permissions and access logs. Security teams should monitor for unusual API activity or unauthorized access attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched environment to ensure that all access control mechanisms function correctly and that no residual vulnerabilities remain in the application's permission handling system. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and implementing proper access control validation in management interfaces for containerized environments.