CVE-2020-15186
Improper sanitization of plugin names in Helm
In Helm before versions 2.16.11 and 3.3.2 plugin names are not sanitized properly. As a result, a malicious plugin author could use characters in a plugin name that would result in unexpected behavior, such as duplicating the name of another plugin or spoofing the output to helm --help. This issue has been patched in Helm 3.3.2. A possible workaround is to not install untrusted Helm plugins. Examine the name field in the plugin.yaml file for a plugin, looking for characters outside of the [a-zA-Z0-9._-] range.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
3.4
Improper sanitization of plugin names in Helm
In Helm before versions 2.16.11 and 3.3.2 plugin names are not sanitized properly. As a result, a malicious plugin author could use characters in a plugin name that would result in unexpected behavior, such as duplicating the name of another plugin or spoofing the output to helm --help. This issue has been patched in Helm 3.3.2. A possible workaround is to not install untrusted Helm plugins. Examine the name field in the plugin.yaml file for a plugin, looking for characters outside of the [a-zA-Z0-9._-] range.
- Record
CVE-2020-15186- CVSS 3.1
- 3.4 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-1132
3.4
In Helm before versions 2.16.11 and 3.3.2 plugin names are not sanitized properly. As a result, a malicious plugin author could use characters in a plugin name that would result in unexpected behavior, such as duplicating the name of another plugin or spoofing the output to helm --help. This issue has been patched in Helm 3.3.2. A possible workaround is to not install untrusted Helm plugins. Examine the name field in the plugin.yaml file for a plugin, looking for characters outside of the [a-zA-Z0-9._-] range.
- Record
EUVD-2021-1132- CVSS 3.1
- 3.4 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-m54r-vrmv-hw33
3.4
Improper Sanitizing of plugin names in helm
Impact
Security researchers at Trail of Bits discovered that plugin names are not sanitized properly. As a result, a malicious plugin author could use characters in a plugin name that would result in unexpected behavior, such as duplicating the name of another plugin or spoofing the output to helm --help.
Specific Go Packages Affected
helm.sh/helm/v3/pkg/plugin
Patches
This issue has been patched in Helm 3.3.2.
Workarounds
Do not install untrusted Helm plugins. Examine the name field in the plugin.yaml file for a plugin, looking for characters outside of the [a-zA-Z0-9._-] range.
- Record
GHSA-m54r-vrmv-hw33- CVSS 3.1
- 3.4 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-74
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
3.4
In Helm before versions 2.16.11 and 3.3.2 plugin names are not sanitized properly. As a result, a malicious plugin author could use characters in a plugin name that would result in unexpected behavior, such as duplicating the name of another plugin or spoofing the output to helm --help. This issue has been patched in Helm 3.3.2. A possible workaround is to not install untrusted Helm plugins. Examine the name field in the plugin.yaml file for a plugin, looking for characters outside of the [a-zA-Z0-9._-] range.
- Record
CVE-2020-15186- CVSS 3.1
- 3.4 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 2.7 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 4.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-74
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
2.7
In Helm before versions 2.16.11 and 3.3.2 plugin names are not sanitized properly. As a result, a malicious plugin author could use characters in a plugin name that would result in unexpected behavior, such as duplicating the name of another plugin or spoofing the output to helm --help. This issue has been patched in Helm 3.3.2. A possible workaround is to not install untrusted Helm plugins. Examine the name field in the plugin.yaml file for a plugin, looking for characters outside of the [a-zA-Z0-9._-] range.
- Record
CVE-2020-15186- CVSS 3.1
- 2.7 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-m54r-vrmv-hw33
3.4
Improper Sanitizing of plugin names in helm
Impact
Security researchers at Trail of Bits discovered that plugin names are not sanitized properly. As a result, a malicious plugin author could use characters in a plugin name that would result in unexpected behavior, such as duplicating the name of another plugin or spoofing the output to helm --help.
Specific Go Packages Affected
helm.sh/helm/v3/pkg/plugin
Patches
This issue has been patched in Helm 3.3.2.
Workarounds
Do not install untrusted Helm plugins. Examine the name field in the plugin.yaml file for a plugin, looking for characters outside of the [a-zA-Z0-9._-] range.
- Record
GHSA-m54r-vrmv-hw33- CVSS 3.1
- 3.4 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-74
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-helm-2020-15186 No score
Improper sanitization of plugin names in Helm
In Helm before versions 2.16.11 and 3.3.2 plugin names are not sanitized properly. As a result, a malicious plugin author could use characters in a plugin name that would result in unexpected behavior, such as duplicating the name of another plugin or spoofing the output to helm --help. This issue has been patched in Helm 3.3.2. A possible workaround is to not install untrusted Helm plugins. Examine the name field in the plugin.yaml file for a plugin, looking for characters outside of the [a-zA-Z0-9._-] range.
- Record
BIT-helm-2020-15186- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2020:3760-1 No score
Security changes in Kubernetes, etcd, and helm; Bugfix in cri-o package
= Required Actions
== Kubernetes & etcd (Security fixes)
This fix involves an upgrade of Kubernetes and some add-ons. See https://documentation.suse.com/suse-caasp/4.2/html/caasp-admin/_cluster_updates.html#_updating_kubernetes_components for the upgrade procedure.
== Skuba & helm/helm3
In order to update skuba and helm or helm 3, you need to update the management workstation. See detailed instructions at https://documentation.suse.com/suse-caasp/4.2/html/caasp-admin/_cluster_updates.html#_update_management_workstation
= Known Issues
Modifying the file /etc/sysconfig/kubelet directly is not supported: documentation at https://documentation.suse.com/suse-caasp/4.2/html/caasp-admin/_miscellaneous.html#_configuring_kubelet
Be sure to check the Release Notes at https://www.suse.com/releasenotes/x86_64/SUSE-CAASP/4/#_changes_in_4_2_4 for any additional known issues or behavioral changes.
- Record
SUSE-SU-2020:3760-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
helm.sh/helm/v3Go |
3.0.0 up to 3.3.2 | 3.3.2 |
helm.sh/helmGo |
before 2.16.11 | 2.16.11 |
helmBitnami |
2.0.0 up to 2.16.11, 3.0.0 up to 3.3.2 | 2.16.113.3.2 |
kubernetesSUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Containers 15 SP1 From an advisory covering 8 CVEs |
before 1.17.13-4.21.2 | 1.17.13-4.21.2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2020-15186 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 3.4) in Helm, published September 17, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.96%, the 61st percentile. Fixed in helm.sh/helm/v3 3.3.2.
References
github.com/helm/helm/security/advisories/GHSA-m54r-vrmv-hw33
github.com/helm/helm/commit/809e2d999e2c33e20e77f6bff30652d79c287542
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15186
github.com/helm/helm/commit/c8d6b01d72c9604e43ee70d0d78fadd54c2d8499
github.com/advisories/GHSA-m54r-vrmv-hw33
github.com/helm/helm
Show 17 moreShow less
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2020/suse-su-20203760-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1174219
bugzilla.suse.com/1174951
bugzilla.suse.com/1176752
bugzilla.suse.com/1176753
bugzilla.suse.com/1176754
bugzilla.suse.com/1176755
bugzilla.suse.com/1177661
bugzilla.suse.com/1177662
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-15106
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-15112
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-15184
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-15185
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-15186
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-15187
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-8565
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-8566