CVE-2020-2026: Github.com/kata containers/runtime Link Following Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-877x-32pm-p28x
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-59
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-2026 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) link following vulnerability (CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')) affecting Github.com/kata containers/runtime libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves link following in kata runtime. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.9.1, 1.10.6, 1.11.1.

CVE-2020-2026 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-2026
GHSA Identifier GHSA-877x-32pm-p28x
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Affected Product Github.com/kata containers/runtime
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2020-2026

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/kata containers/runtime 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/kata-containers/runtime fixed: 1.9.1 
Upgrade github.com/kata-containers/runtime to 1.9.1
github.com/kata-containers/runtime fixed: 1.10.6 
Upgrade github.com/kata-containers/runtime to 1.10.6
github.com/kata-containers/runtime fixed: 1.11.1 
Upgrade github.com/kata-containers/runtime to 1.11.1
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/kata-containers/runtime

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2020-2026, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/kata containers/runtime:

inspect dependencies for github.com/kata-containers/runtime

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/kata containers/runtime in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.9.1), 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/kata containers/runtime, 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

A malicious guest compromised before a container creation (e.g. a malicious guest image or a guest running multiple containers) can trick the kata runtime into mounting the untrusted container filesystem on any host path, potentially allowing for code execution on the host. This issue affects 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.

CVE-2020-2026 Affected Github.com/kata containers/runtime Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.9.11.10.61.11.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/kata-containers/runtime
golang/github.com/kata-containers/runtime
Go
< 1.9.1
1.9.1
github.com/kata-containers/runtime
golang/github.com/kata-containers/runtime
Go
≥ 1.10.0
< 1.10.6
1.10.6
github.com/kata-containers/runtime
golang/github.com/kata-containers/runtime
Go
≥ 1.11.0
< 1.11.1
All 1 versions
1.11.0
1.11.1

References

NVD — CVE-2020-2026 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-2026
Github.com/kata containers/runtime Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kata-containers/runtime/issues/2712
Github.com/kata containers/runtime Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kata-containers/runtime/pull/2713
Github.com/kata containers/runtime Release RELEASE
https://github.com/kata-containers/runtime/releases/tag/1.10.5
Github.com/kata containers/runtime Release RELEASE
https://github.com/kata-containers/runtime/releases/tag/1.11.1
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-2026?
CVE-2020-2026 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/kata containers/runtime involving Link Following in Kata Runtime under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following').
Which Github.com/kata containers/runtime versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.9.1, 1.10.6, 1.11.1 across affected packages: github.com/kata-containers/runtime.
What version fixes CVE-2020-2026?
Upgrading to 1.9.1, 1.10.6, 1.11.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/kata-containers/runtime affected?
Yes, github.com/kata-containers/runtime is affected in releases prior to 1.9.1, 1.10.6, 1.11.1. Upgrade your dependency to 1.9.1, 1.10.6, 1.11.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-2026?
CVE-2020-2026 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-2026?
CVE-2020-2026 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-2020-2026?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/kata-containers/runtime'. 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-877x-32pm-p28x",
  "modified" : "2021-05-13T19:28:33Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-15T01:57:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-2026" ],
  "summary" : "Link Following in Kata Runtime",
  "details" : "A malicious guest compromised before a container creation (e.g. a malicious guest image or a guest running multiple containers) can trick the kata runtime into mounting the untrusted container filesystem on any host path, potentially allowing for code execution on the host. This issue affects 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.",
  "severity" : [ {
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    "database_specific" : {
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    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
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    }
  }, {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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    } ],
    "versions" : [ "1.11.0" ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kata-containers/runtime/issues/2712"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kata-containers/runtime/pull/2713"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kata-containers/runtime/releases/tag/1.10.5"
  }, {
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    "url" : "https://github.com/kata-containers/runtime/releases/tag/1.11.1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2P7FHA4AF6Y6PAVJBTTQPUEHXZQUOF3P"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6JPBKAQBF3OR72N55GWM2TDYQP2OHK6H"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6W5MKF7HSAIL2AX2BX6RV4WWVGUIKVLS"
  }, {
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    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NJAMOVB7DSOGX7J26QH5HZKU7GSSX2VU"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XWACJQSMY5BVDMVTF3FBN7HZSOSFOG3Q"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-59" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-05-13T19:28:33Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-06-10T18:15:00Z"
  }
}