CVE-2020-15229: Path traversal and files overwrite with unsquashfs

Published Oct 14, 2020
·
Updated

Singularity (an open source container platform) from version 3.1.1 through 3.6.3 has a vulnerability. Due to insecure handling of path traversal and the lack of path sanitization within unsquashfs, it is possible to overwrite/create any files on the host filesystem during the extraction with a crafted squashfs filesystem. The extraction occurs automatically for unprivileged (either installation or with allow setuid = no) run of Singularity when a user attempt to run an image which is a local SIF image or a single file containing a squashfs filesystem and is coming from remote sources library:// or shub://. Image build is also impacted in a more serious way as it can be used by a root user, allowing an attacker to overwrite/create files leading to a system compromise, so far bootstrap methods library, shub and localimage are triggering the squashfs extraction. This issue is addressed in Singularity 3.6.4. All users are advised to upgrade to 3.6.4 especially if they use Singularity mainly for building image as root user. There is no solid workaround except to temporary avoid to use unprivileged mode with single file images in favor of sandbox images instead. Regarding image build, temporary avoid to build from library and shub sources and as much as possible use --fakeroot or a VM for that.

Affected Software

4 affected components
Sylabs Singularity>=3.1.1<=3.6.3
openSUSE Backports SLE=15.0-sp2
openSUSE Leap=15.1
openSUSE Leap=15.2

Event History

Oct 14, 2020
CVE Published
via MITRE·06:55 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·06:55 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2020-15229?

The severity of CVE-2020-15229 is critical with a CVSS score of 9.3.

2

How does CVE-2020-15229 affect Singularity?

CVE-2020-15229 affects Singularity versions 3.1.1 through 3.6.3.

3

What is the vulnerability in CVE-2020-15229?

CVE-2020-15229 is a vulnerability in Singularity that allows for path traversal and improper path handling in `unsquashfs`, leading to potential file overwriting or creation on the host filesystem during extraction.

4

What software is affected by CVE-2020-15229?

CVE-2020-15229 affects Sylabs Singularity, openSUSE Backports SLE 15.0 SP2, openSUSE Leap 15.1, and openSUSE Leap 15.2.

5

How can I fix CVE-2020-15229?

To fix CVE-2020-15229, it is recommended to update to a fixed version of Singularity (3.6.4 or later) or apply the necessary patches provided by the vendor.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203