CVE-2020-24640 in Airwave Glass
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2021
There is a vulnerability caused by insufficient input validation that allows for arbitrary command execution in a containerized environment within Airwave Glass before 1.3.3. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the underlying host operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-24640 represents a critical security flaw in Airwave Glass software versions prior to 1.3.3, specifically within containerized environments where insufficient input validation permits arbitrary command execution. This weakness stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data that flows into system commands or shell invocations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized operations within the container runtime. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly validate or escape input parameters that are subsequently used in command construction, leading to potential code injection scenarios.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's handling of user input within containerized contexts, where command injection vulnerabilities typically arise from improper use of system call functions or shell execution mechanisms. When user-provided data is directly incorporated into shell commands without proper sanitization, attackers can manipulate input to inject malicious commands that execute with the privileges of the container process. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that maps to CWE-77 and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-24640 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete compromise of the underlying host operating system, particularly when containers are improperly isolated or when the container runtime environment lacks proper security boundaries. Container escape scenarios occur when malicious commands executed within the container context can leverage container-specific vulnerabilities or misconfigurations to break out of the containerized environment and gain access to host resources. This allows attackers to potentially access host filesystems, network interfaces, and other containers running on the same host system. The vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations deploying Airwave Glass in containerized environments, as successful exploitation can result in full system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data and infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Airwave Glass installations to version 1.3.3 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization and validation mechanisms throughout their applications, particularly when handling user-supplied data that may be used in system command execution. Security controls should include proper parameter validation, use of secure coding practices for command construction, and implementation of least privilege principles for containerized applications. Additionally, network segmentation and container runtime security controls such as those defined in the CIS Container Security Benchmark should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other applications within the containerized environment.