CVE-2019-3841 in virt-cdi-importer
Summary
by MITRE
Kubevirt/virt-cdi-importer, versions 1.4.0 to 1.5.3 inclusive, were reported to disable TLS certificate validation when importing data into PVCs from container registries. This could enable man-in-the-middle attacks between a container registry and the virt-cdi-component, leading to possible undetected tampering of trusted container image content.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3841 affects the Kubevirt/virt-cdi-importer component within Kubernetes environments, specifically targeting versions 1.4.0 through 1.5.3. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of container image imports into persistent volume claims. The vulnerability stems from the importer's improper handling of TLS certificate validation during data transfer operations between container registries and the virt-cdi-component, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the security posture of containerized environments.
The technical flaw manifests as a deliberate disablement of TLS certificate validation mechanisms within the virt-cdi-importer functionality. When importing data into persistent volume claims from container registries, the component fails to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates presented by the registry servers. This configuration effectively removes the cryptographic assurance that data integrity and authenticity are maintained during transit, allowing attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks without detection. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security level, specifically targeting the certificate validation process that should ensure secure communication channels between the importer and remote registry services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to encompass potential full system compromise through supply chain attacks. An attacker positioned within the network path between the virt-cdi-importer and the container registry can intercept, modify, or replace container images with malicious content without the system detecting the tampering. This creates a persistent threat vector where compromised images can be silently introduced into production environments, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security assumptions of container image distribution, undermining trust in the software supply chain and potentially enabling lateral movement within the Kubernetes cluster.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the virt-cdi-importer component, enforcing strict network segmentation between container registries and Kubernetes clusters, and implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized image modifications. Security teams should also consider deploying network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious TLS connection patterns and implement certificate pinning mechanisms where possible. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1555.003 for credential access through compromised container images. Organizations must also review their certificate management policies and implement comprehensive audit logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of upgraded components to ensure compatibility with existing infrastructure while maintaining security posture throughout the transition period.