Critical Docker Vulnerability Lets Hacker Bypass Authentication

A critical security vulnerability in Docker Engine has been discovered, potentially allowing attackers to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to systems.

The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-41110, affects multiple versions of Docker Engine and has been assigned a CVSS score of 10, indicating the highest level of severity.

The issue stems from a regression in Docker’s authorization plugin (AuthZ) system.

What is Difference between Authentication and authorization

Authentication and authorization are two distinct processes in the realm of security. Authentication involves verifying the identity of a user or system, ensuring they are who they claim to be, typically through methods like passwords, biometrics, or tokens.

Authorization, on the other hand, occurs after authentication and determines the permissions or access levels granted to the authenticated user, dictating what they can or cannot do within a system. While authentication confirms identity, authorization controls access to resources based on that identity.

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a special API request with a Content-Length set to 0, causing the Docker daemon to forward the request without the body to the AuthZ plugin.

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This could result in the plugin incorrectly approving the request, leading to unauthorized actions and potential privilege escalation.

Affected Versions And Impact

The vulnerability affects Docker Engine version 19.03.x and, later, specifically, those configured to use AuthZ plugins. Users not employing AuthZ plugins or running older Docker Engine versions are not susceptible. The following versions are affected:

• Docker Engine: <= v19.03.15, <= v20.10.27, <= v23.0.14, <= v24.0.9, <= v25.0.5, <= v26.0.2, <= v26.1.4, <= v27.0.3, <= v27.1.0
• Docker Desktop: Up to v4.32.0

While the base likelihood of exploitation is considered low, the potential impact is significant, especially in production environments where Docker Engine plays a crucial role in container orchestration and deployment.

Remediation Steps

Docker has released patches to address this vulnerability. Users are strongly advised to take the following actions:

1. Update Docker Engine: Users running affected versions should update to the most recently patched version (> v23.0.14 or > v27.1.0).
2. Update Docker Desktop: Users should update to Docker Desktop v4.33 upon its release, which will include a patched version of Docker Engine.
3. Temporary Mitigation: If immediate updates are not possible, users should consider temporarily disabling AuthZ plugins and restricting access to the Docker API.
4. Best Practices: Follow the principle of least privilege by restricting access to the Docker API to trusted parties only.

Docker Business subscribers can use Settings Management to enforce secure settings across their organization.

This vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and the need for organizations to maintain vigilance in their container environments.

As containerization plays a crucial role in modern software development and deployment, promptly addressing such vulnerabilities is essential to maintain the integrity and security of systems relying on Docker technology.

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