CVE-2020-15229

Path traversal and files overwrite with unsquashfs

CRITICAL
9.3
CVSS Score
Published: October 14, 2020 at 06:55 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 02:56 AM UTC
4 products affected across 3 vendorsLeapBackports SleSingularity

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Severity
CRITICAL9.3
Exploit prediction
EPSS 2%

Description

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

3.1.1 ≤ v ≤ 3.6.3
v < 3.6.4
Affected range stops below 3.6.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

References (7)

Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_SUSEBroken LinkMailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00070.html
Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_SUSEBroken LinkMailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00071.html
Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_SUSEBroken LinkMailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-11/msg00009.html
x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/hpcng/singularity/pull/5611

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-22

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