CVE-2020-24263 : Security Advisory and Response

Portainer 1.24.1 and earlier versions are vulnerable to an insecure permissions issue that could result in remote arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability allows non-admin users to create containers with critical capabilities, potentially compromising the Docker host.

Understanding CVE-2020-24263

Portainer 1.24.1 and earlier versions are impacted by a security flaw that enables unauthorized users to exploit container creation capabilities.

What is CVE-2020-24263?

Portainer versions 1.24.1 and below contain a vulnerability that permits non-admin users to spawn containers with critical privileges, like SYS_MODULE, which could be leveraged for unauthorized access to the Docker host.

The Impact of CVE-2020-24263

The vulnerability in Portainer could lead to remote arbitrary code execution, posing a significant security risk to Docker hosts.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-24263

Portainer's security flaw can be further understood through technical details.

Vulnerability Description

The insecure permissions vulnerability in Portainer allows non-admin users to create containers with critical capabilities, potentially leading to remote arbitrary code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Portainer 1.24.1 and earlier versions

Exploitation Mechanism

Non-admin users exploiting the vulnerability to spawn containers with critical capabilities like SYS_MODULE

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-24263 requires immediate action and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Portainer to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability
Restrict non-admin users' permissions to prevent unauthorized container creation

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit container creation activities
Implement least privilege access controls to limit user capabilities

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to mitigate the vulnerability in Portainer