CVE-2020-14370 : What You Need to Know

An information disclosure vulnerability was found in containers/podman in versions before 2.0.5. Attackers could exploit this flaw to access sensitive information stored in environment variables.

Understanding CVE-2020-14370

What is CVE-2020-14370?

CVE-2020-14370 is an information disclosure vulnerability in containers/podman versions prior to 2.0.5. It allows attackers to leak environment variables from one container to another, potentially exposing sensitive data.

The Impact of CVE-2020-14370

This vulnerability could be exploited by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to confidential information stored in environment variables within containers.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-14370

Vulnerability Description

When utilizing the deprecated Varlink API or Docker-compatible REST API and creating multiple containers rapidly, environment variables from the initial container may be exposed to subsequent containers, leading to data leakage.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: podman
Affected Versions: podman versions before 2.0.5

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with control over subsequent containers can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive data present in leaked environment variables.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to podman version 2.0.5 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement strict access controls to limit exposure of sensitive information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit container environments for unusual activities.
Educate users on secure coding practices to prevent information disclosure vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly and consistently to address known vulnerabilities and enhance container security.