CVE-2020-15229

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.

• CWE-22

• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00070.htmlBroken Link, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00071.htmlBroken Link, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-11/msg00009.htmlBroken Link, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
• https://github.com/hpcng/singularity/blob/v3.6.4/CHANGELOG.md#security-related-fixesRelease Notes, Third Party Advisory
• https://github.com/hpcng/singularity/commit/eba3dea260b117198fdb6faf41f2482ab2f8d53ePatch, Third Party Advisory
• https://github.com/hpcng/singularity/pull/5611Patch, Third Party Advisory
• https://github.com/hpcng/singularity/security/advisories/GHSA-7gcp-w6ww-2xv9Third Party Advisory
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00070.htmlBroken Link, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00071.htmlBroken Link, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-11/msg00009.htmlBroken Link, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
• https://github.com/hpcng/singularity/blob/v3.6.4/CHANGELOG.md#security-related-fixesRelease Notes, Third Party Advisory
• https://github.com/hpcng/singularity/commit/eba3dea260b117198fdb6faf41f2482ab2f8d53ePatch, Third Party Advisory
• https://github.com/hpcng/singularity/pull/5611Patch, Third Party Advisory
• https://github.com/hpcng/singularity/security/advisories/GHSA-7gcp-w6ww-2xv9Third Party Advisory

Published

Oct 14, 2020

Last Modified

Jun 17, 2026

Status

Modified