CIFS-Utils Vulnerability: Kerberos Credential Exposure in Alpine Linux
Summary
ALPINE-CVE-2021-20208: A flaw was found in cifs-utils in versions before 6.13. Affects cifs-utils versions < 6.13-r0. Fixed in 6.13-r0. How to fix ↓
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Background
CIFS-utils is a package in Alpine Linux that provides utilities for mounting and managing CIFS (Common Internet File System) file systems. It is widely used for accessing shared files across networks. The package is crucial for environments that rely on Kerberos authentication for secure file sharing. However, a vulnerability was discovered that allows users to inadvertently expose Kerberos credentials when mounting CIFS file systems from within containers.
Vulnerability Detail
A flaw was found in cifs-utils in versions before 6.13. When a user mounts a krb5 CIFS file system from within a container, they can inadvertently use the Kerberos credentials of the host system. This vulnerability poses a significant threat to data confidentiality and integrity, as it could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information and resources.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
6.13-r0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apk add --upgrade cifs-utilsTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can avoid mounting krb5 CIFS file systems from within containers until the package is updated to the fixed version. Additionally, consider isolating container environments to prevent access to host credentials.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in cifs-utils poses a significant risk to data confidentiality and integrity due to the exposure of Kerberos credentials when mounting CIFS file systems from containers. It is crucial to update to the patched version 6.13-r0 to mitigate this risk and ensure secure operations.
See every vulnerability recorded for cifs-utils →
FAQ
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 6.1, indicating a medium severity level.
All versions of cifs-utils prior to 6.13 are affected by this vulnerability.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
The potential consequences include unauthorized access to sensitive data and resources, leading to data breaches and loss of data integrity.
Yes, Vulert can monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just a manifest file like package-lock.json.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for cifs-utils.
