CVE-2019-16877 in Portainer
Summary
by MITRE
Portainer before 1.22.1 has Incorrect Access Control (issue 4 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 CVE-2019-16877 represents a critical access control flaw that existed in Portainer versions prior to 1.22.1, specifically categorized as an incorrect access control issue within the broader context of the application's security architecture. This vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks within the application's API endpoints that handle container management operations. The flaw allows authenticated users to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to resources they should not be permitted to access, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the application layer where Portainer's API endpoints fail to properly validate user permissions when processing requests for container operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious API requests that leverage the existing authenticated session to perform actions outside their designated access scope. The vulnerability specifically affects the container management functionality where users can manipulate running containers, access container logs, or execute commands within containers. This issue manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited through various attack vectors including API calls and web interface interactions, potentially allowing an attacker to gain root-level access to containerized applications and underlying host systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-16877 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to compromise entire container orchestration environments. Organizations using vulnerable Portainer instances face significant risks including data breaches, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within their infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure container management practices, allowing attackers to access sensitive container data, modify container configurations, and potentially execute arbitrary code on target systems. This flaw particularly impacts organizations that rely on Portainer for managing production container environments, as it can provide attackers with the means to escalate their privileges and gain control over critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through upgrading to Portainer version 1.22.1 or later, which includes proper access control validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement additional security controls including network segmentation, API rate limiting, and comprehensive monitoring of API access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Security teams should conduct thorough access control reviews and implement principle of least privilege policies for all Portainer users, ensuring that administrative privileges are strictly limited to authorized personnel only. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of container management interfaces are essential to identify similar authorization flaws and maintain robust security postures.