CVE-2015-3627: Github.com/docker/docker Symlink Attack Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-g7v2-2qxx-wjrw
Share
CWE-59
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2015-3627 is a MODERATE symlink attack vulnerability (CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')) affecting Github.com/docker/docker libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves symlink attack in libcontainer and docker engine. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.6.1.

CVE-2015-3627 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2015-3627
GHSA Identifier GHSA-g7v2-2qxx-wjrw
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Affected Product Github.com/docker/docker
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2015-3627

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/docker/docker dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/docker/docker fixed: 1.6.1 
Upgrade github.com/docker/docker to 1.6.1
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for github.com/docker/docker

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2015-3627, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/docker/docker:

inspect dependencies for github.com/docker/docker

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/docker/docker in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.6.1), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following'), where the product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource. In Github.com/docker/docker, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Libcontainer and Docker Engine before 1.6.1 opens the file-descriptor passed to the pid-1 process before performing the chroot, which allows local users to gain privileges via a symlink attack in an image.

CVE-2015-3627 Affected Github.com/docker/docker Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.6.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/docker/docker
golang/github.com/docker/docker
Go
< 1.6.1
1.6.1

References

NVD — CVE-2015-3627 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-3627
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/docker/docker/commit/d5ebb60bddbabea0439213501f4f6ed494b23cba
groups.google.com/forum/ WEB
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/docker-user/1.6.1/docker-user/47GZrihtr-4/nwgeOOFLexIJ
groups.google.com/forum/ WEB
https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21searchin/docker-user/1.6.1/docker-user/47GZrihtr-4/nwgeOOFLexIJ
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
https://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2015-05/msg00023.html
Github.com/docker/docker Security Information SECURITY
https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/131835/Docker-Privilege-Escalation-Information-Disclosure.html
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2015... WEB
https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2015/May/28

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-3627?
CVE-2015-3627 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/docker/docker involving Symlink Attack in Libcontainer and Docker Engine under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following').
Which Github.com/docker/docker versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.6.1 across affected packages: github.com/docker/docker.
What version fixes CVE-2015-3627?
Upgrading to 1.6.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/docker/docker affected?
Yes, github.com/docker/docker is affected in releases prior to 1.6.1. Upgrade your dependency to 1.6.1 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2015-3627?
CVE-2015-3627 is classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') (The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2015-3627?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/docker/docker'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-g7v2-2qxx-wjrw",
  "modified" : "2021-05-20T16:33:03Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-15T01:18:02Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2015-3627" ],
  "summary" : "Symlink Attack in Libcontainer and Docker Engine",
  "details" : "Libcontainer and Docker Engine before 1.6.1 opens the file-descriptor passed to the pid-1 process before performing the chroot, which allows local users to gain privileges via a symlink attack in an image.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/docker/docker"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.6.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-3627"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/docker/docker/commit/d5ebb60bddbabea0439213501f4f6ed494b23cba"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/docker-user/1.6.1/docker-user/47GZrihtr-4/nwgeOOFLexIJ"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21searchin/docker-user/1.6.1/docker-user/47GZrihtr-4/nwgeOOFLexIJ"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2015-05/msg00023.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/131835/Docker-Privilege-Escalation-Information-Disclosure.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2015/May/28"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-59" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-05-20T16:33:03Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}