Container Breakout Vulnerability in Podman and Buildah

CVE-2024-11218

What is CVE-2024-11218?

CVE-2024-11218 is a vulnerability affecting the container management tools Podman and Buildah, developed by Red Hat. This issue allows for a potential container breakout when specific command options are used during the build process of a malicious Containerfile. Such a vulnerability poses risks to organizations utilizing these tools for container orchestration and development, as it could lead to exposure of sensitive data and unauthorized access to the host system's file structures.

Technical Details

The vulnerability arises primarily from a race condition linked to the --jobs=2 option used in the podman build command. This problematic condition occurs during the build process of a container image. Although SELinux can provide some mitigation against these types of attacks, it does not completely prevent the exposure, allowing an attacker to enumerate files and directories on the host system underneath the container's namespace.

Potential impact of CVE-2024-11218

1. Unauthorized File Enumeration: Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain visibility into the host system’s files and directories, creating opportunities for further attacks or data exfiltration.

2. Risk of Data Breaches: By leveraging this vulnerability, malicious actors may access sensitive data stored on the host or other applications, leading to potential data breaches and the compromise of confidential information.

3. Compromised Host Integrity: The ability to escape the container environment threatens the integrity of the host system itself, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands or deploy additional malicious code.

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