CVE-2020-2026 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Kata Containers - Guests can trick the kata-runtime into mounting the container image on any host path

Understanding CVE-2020-2026

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Kata Containers that allows malicious guests to manipulate the kata-runtime, potentially leading to code execution on the host.

What is CVE-2020-2026?

A malicious guest, compromised before container creation, can deceive the kata runtime into mounting an untrusted container filesystem on any host path, enabling potential code execution on the host.

The Impact of CVE-2020-2026

CVSS Base Score: 7.8 (High)
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: High
Privileges Required: Low
Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability Impact: High
Scope: Changed

Technical Details of CVE-2020-2026

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows a malicious guest to manipulate the kata-runtime, potentially leading to code execution on the host.

Affected Systems and Versions

Kata Containers 1.11 versions earlier than 1.11.1
Kata Containers 1.10 versions earlier than 1.10.5
Kata Containers 1.9 and earlier versions

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue arises when a compromised guest image or a guest running multiple containers tricks the kata runtime into mounting the untrusted container filesystem on any host path.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Kata Containers to version 1.11.1 or later for 1.11 users, 1.10.5 or later for 1.10 users.
Avoid running untrusted guest images or multiple containers on the same guest.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update container images to prevent compromise.
Implement strict access controls and isolation between containers.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest patches and updates provided by Kata Containers to address this vulnerability.