CVE-2024-5154 in cri-o
Summary
by MITRE • 06/12/2024
A flaw was found in cri-o. A malicious container can create a symbolic link pointing to an arbitrary directory or file on the host via directory traversal (“../“). This flaw allows the container to read and write to arbitrary files on the host system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5154 resides within the cri-o container runtime environment, representing a critical directory traversal flaw that fundamentally compromises host system security boundaries. This weakness enables malicious containers to exploit symbolic link creation mechanisms to establish links pointing to arbitrary directories or files on the host system, effectively breaking the isolation that containers are designed to maintain. The flaw operates through the manipulation of directory traversal sequences using the "../" pattern, which allows unauthorized access to host resources that should remain protected from containerized processes.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and path resolution mechanisms within cri-o's handling of symbolic links and file operations. When a container attempts to create symbolic links, the system fails to properly sanitize or restrict the target paths, allowing attackers to navigate beyond the intended container boundaries. This flaw directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The implementation weakness occurs at the filesystem access control layer where cri-o fails to enforce proper access controls on symbolic link creation operations, creating an attack vector that bypasses normal container isolation mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-5154 extends far beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides adversaries with the capability to read and write to arbitrary files on the host system. This privilege escalation allows attackers to potentially modify critical system files, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the host environment. The vulnerability creates a direct pathway for lateral movement attacks where container compromise can immediately translate to host system compromise, undermining the fundamental security model that container technologies rely upon. Security professionals must recognize that this flaw enables a range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and system persistence mechanisms that could be exploited by both internal and external threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5154 should prioritize immediate patching of affected cri-o versions, as this represents a critical security flaw requiring urgent remediation. Organizations should implement strict container runtime policies that restrict symbolic link creation capabilities and enforce proper path validation mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1565.001, which describes "Data Manipulation" through the exploitation of container runtime vulnerabilities to manipulate system files and data. Network segmentation and host-based security controls should be enhanced to monitor for suspicious symbolic link creation activities, while privileged container execution should be strictly limited. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their container orchestration environments to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other components of their container infrastructure. Regular security audits and continuous monitoring of container runtime behavior are essential to detect and prevent exploitation of such fundamental access control weaknesses that compromise the integrity of containerized environments.