CVE-2021-45449 in Docker
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2022
Docker Desktop version 4.3.0 and 4.3.1 has a bug that may log sensitive information (access token or password) on the user's machine during login. This only affects users if they are on Docker Desktop 4.3.0, 4.3.1 and the user has logged in while on 4.3.0, 4.3.1. Gaining access to this data would require having access to the user’s local files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2022
This vulnerability affects Docker Desktop versions 4.3.0 and 4.3.1 where sensitive authentication data including access tokens or passwords may be inadvertently logged to the user's local filesystem during the login process. The flaw represents a classic information exposure vulnerability that violates fundamental security principles of credential handling and data protection. According to CWE-200, this vulnerability falls under information exposure where sensitive data is improperly handled and stored in plaintext within log files. The issue specifically manifests during authentication flows where the application fails to sanitize or properly encrypt sensitive information before writing it to persistent storage. This creates a significant risk for users who have logged in while using these affected versions, as the stored credentials could be accessed by unauthorized parties with local file system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure to encompass broader security implications for containerized environments and development workflows. Attackers with local access to a compromised machine could extract these logged credentials and potentially gain unauthorized access to container registries, cloud environments, or other systems that rely on the compromised Docker credentials. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.003, which covers credentials from password storage components, and demonstrates how insecure logging practices can create attack vectors that bypass traditional authentication mechanisms. The specific timing of the vulnerability requires users to have been actively using the affected Docker Desktop versions during their login sessions, making it a targeted risk for developers and administrators who may have been running these specific versions in production or development environments.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the Docker Desktop application's logging infrastructure. When users authenticate through the affected versions, the application's credential processing pipeline fails to properly sanitize sensitive information before logging operations occur. This creates persistent log entries that contain unencrypted authentication tokens or passwords, which remain accessible on the local filesystem for extended periods. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application level rather than network level, meaning that even if network traffic is properly secured, local file system access can still compromise the security posture. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader zero trust security framework, where local credential protection becomes as critical as network-based authentication controls. The remediation process requires users to upgrade to Docker Desktop versions that have patched this logging behavior, while also implementing proper log file access controls and regular security audits to detect any potential credential exposure incidents.
This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output sanitization in security-critical applications. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation details in credential handling can create significant security risks when combined with inadequate logging practices. Security practitioners should emphasize the need for comprehensive testing of authentication flows and logging mechanisms, particularly in desktop applications where local storage is commonly used. The incident underscores the necessity of implementing security controls that prevent sensitive data from being written to persistent storage without proper encryption or sanitization. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous logging patterns or the presence of credential-like strings in log files, providing additional layers of defense against similar vulnerabilities in the future.