CVE-2020-15185 : What You Need to Know

In Helm before versions 2.16.11 and 3.3.2, a vulnerability allows duplicates of the same chart in a repository, potentially enabling attackers to inject malicious content. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2020-15185

This CVE highlights a security issue in Helm that could compromise the integrity of repositories and allow for the injection of harmful content.

What is CVE-2020-15185?

Helm repositories could contain duplicate entries of the same chart, with the last one always being used. This flaw could be exploited by attackers with write access to the index file, potentially leading to the insertion of malicious charts into repositories.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15185

CVSS Base Score: 2.2 (Low)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
Privileges Required: High
Integrity Impact: Low
This vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to compromise Helm repositories and inject unauthorized content.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15185

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from Helm's handling of duplicate chart entries in repositories, potentially allowing for the insertion of malicious content.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Versions: Helm >= 2.0.0, < 2.16.11 and >= 3.0.0, < 3.3.2
Affected Product: Helm

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs write access to the index file, which could be achieved through a MITM attack on a non-SSL connection.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from the CVE-2020-15185 vulnerability with these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Helm to version 2.16.11 or 3.3.2 to patch the vulnerability.
Manually review the index file in the Helm repository cache before software installation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement SSL connections for repository access to prevent MITM attacks.
Regularly monitor and audit Helm repositories for unauthorized changes.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of Helm updates and security patches to address known vulnerabilities.