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CVE-2020-15229

Path traversal and files overwrite with unsquashfs

8.2 HighFix available

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.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
High
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

2.05%Up 0.4 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 8.2

Path traversal and files overwrite with unsquashfs

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.

Record
CVE-2020-15229
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-0998 8.2

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.

Record
EUVD-2021-0998
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-7gcp-w6ww-2xv9 8.2

Path traversal and files overwrite with unsquashfs in singularity

Impact

Due to insecure handling of path traversal and the lack of path sanitization within unsquashfs (a distribution provided utility used by Singularity), it is possible to overwrite/create any files on the host filesystem during the extraction of a crafted squashfs filesystem.

Squashfs extraction occurs automatically for unprivileged execution of Singularity (either --without-suid installation or with allow setuid = no) when a user attempts to run an image which:

  • is a local SIF image or a single file containing a squashfs filesystem
  • is pulled from remote sources library:// or shub://

Image build is also impacted in a more serious way as it is often performed by the root user, allowing an attacker to overwrite/create files leading to a system compromise. Bootstrap methods library, shub and localimage trigger a squashfs extraction.

Patches

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.

Workarounds

There is no solid workaround except to temporarily avoid use of unprivileged mode with single file images, in favor of sandbox images instead. Regarding image build, temporarily avoid building from library and shub sources, and as much as possible use --fakeroot or a VM to limit potential impact.

For more information

General questions about the impact of the advisory / changes made in the 3.6.0 release can be asked in the:

Any sensitive security concerns should be directed to: [email protected]

See our Security Policy here: https://sylabs.io/security-policy

Record
GHSA-7gcp-w6ww-2xv9
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 8.2

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.

Record
CVE-2020-15229
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N
CVSS 3.1
9.3 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
CVSS 2.0
5.8 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2020-15229 9.3

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.

Record
ALPINE-CVE-2020-15229
CVSS 3.1
9.3 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
OSV 9.3

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.

Record
CVE-2020-15229
CVSS 3.1
9.3 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 5 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-7gcp-w6ww-2xv9 8.2

Path traversal and files overwrite with unsquashfs in singularity

Impact

Due to insecure handling of path traversal and the lack of path sanitization within unsquashfs (a distribution provided utility used by Singularity), it is possible to overwrite/create any files on the host filesystem during the extraction of a crafted squashfs filesystem.

Squashfs extraction occurs automatically for unprivileged execution of Singularity (either --without-suid installation or with allow setuid = no) when a user attempts to run an image which:

  • is a local SIF image or a single file containing a squashfs filesystem
  • is pulled from remote sources library:// or shub://

Image build is also impacted in a more serious way as it is often performed by the root user, allowing an attacker to overwrite/create files leading to a system compromise. Bootstrap methods library, shub and localimage trigger a squashfs extraction.

Patches

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.

Workarounds

There is no solid workaround except to temporarily avoid use of unprivileged mode with single file images, in favor of sandbox images instead. Regarding image build, temporarily avoid building from library and shub sources, and as much as possible use --fakeroot or a VM to limit potential impact.

For more information

General questions about the impact of the advisory / changes made in the 3.6.0 release can be asked in the:

Any sensitive security concerns should be directed to: [email protected]

See our Security Policy here: https://sylabs.io/security-policy

Record
GHSA-7gcp-w6ww-2xv9
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2020:1769-1 No score

Security update for singularity

This update for singularity fixes the following issues:

Update to new version 3.6.4:

  • CVE-2020-15229: Due to insecure handling of path traversal and the lack of path sanitization within unsquashfs, it is possible to overwrite/create files on the host filesystem during the extraction of a crafted squashfs filesystem (boo#1177901).
Record
openSUSE-SU-2020:1769-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2020:1770-1 No score

Security update for singularity

This update for singularity fixes the following issues:

Update to new version 3.6.4:

  • CVE-2020-15229: Due to insecure handling of path traversal and the lack of path sanitization within unsquashfs, it is possible to overwrite/create files on the host filesystem during the extraction of a crafted squashfs filesystem (boo#1177901).
Record
openSUSE-SU-2020:1770-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2020:1814-1 No score

Security update for singularity

This update for singularity fixes the following issues:

Update to new version 3.6.4:

  • CVE-2020-15229: Due to insecure handling of path traversal and the lack of path sanitization within unsquashfs, it is possible to overwrite/create files on the host filesystem during the extraction of a crafted squashfs filesystem (boo#1177901).

This update was imported from the openSUSE:Leap:15.2:Update update project.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2020:1814-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11384-1 No score

singularity-3.8.3-1.2 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the singularity-3.8.3-1.2 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11384-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
github.com/sylabs/singularity
Go
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4
3.6.4
singularity
Alpine:v3.19
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0
3.6.4-r0
singularity
Alpine:v3.20
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0
3.6.4-r0
singularity
Alpine:v3.21
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0
3.6.4-r0
singularity
Alpine:v3.22
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0
3.6.4-r0
singularity
Alpine:v3.23
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0
3.6.4-r0
singularity
Alpine:v3.24
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0
3.6.4-r0
singularity
openSUSE:Leap 15.1
before 3.6.4-lp151.2.12.1
3.6.4-lp151.2.12.1
singularity
openSUSE:Leap 15.2
before 3.6.4-lp152.2.9.1
3.6.4-lp152.2.9.1
singularity
SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP2
before 3.6.4-bp152.2.12.1
3.6.4-bp152.2.12.1
singularity
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
From an advisory covering 12 CVEs
before 3.8.3-1.2
3.8.3-1.2

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
affected, aliases, referencesOSV
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2020-15229 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.2) in Hpcng Singularity, published October 14, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.05%, the 81st percentile. Fixed in github.com/sylabs/singularity 3.6.4.

References

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