CVE-2020-15229
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.
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
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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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://orshub://
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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 5.8 Medium
AV: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 Critical
CVSS: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 Critical
CVSS: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://orshub://
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 High
CVSS: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
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
github.com/sylabs/singularityGo |
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4 | 3.6.4 |
singularityAlpine:v3.19 |
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0 | 3.6.4-r0 |
singularityAlpine:v3.20 |
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0 | 3.6.4-r0 |
singularityAlpine:v3.21 |
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0 | 3.6.4-r0 |
singularityAlpine:v3.22 |
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0 | 3.6.4-r0 |
singularityAlpine:v3.23 |
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0 | 3.6.4-r0 |
singularityAlpine:v3.24 |
3.1.1 up to 3.6.4-r0 | 3.6.4-r0 |
singularityopenSUSE:Leap 15.1 |
before 3.6.4-lp151.2.12.1 | 3.6.4-lp151.2.12.1 |
singularityopenSUSE:Leap 15.2 |
before 3.6.4-lp152.2.9.1 | 3.6.4-lp152.2.9.1 |
singularitySUSE:Package Hub 15 SP2 |
before 3.6.4-bp152.2.12.1 | 3.6.4-bp152.2.12.1 |
singularityopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 12 CVEs |
before 3.8.3-1.2 | 3.8.3-1.2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| affected, aliases, references | OSV | |
| 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-2020-15229 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
github.com/hpcng/singularity/security/advisories/GHSA-7gcp-w6ww-2xv9
github.com/hpcng/singularity/blob/v3.6.4/CHANGELOG.md
github.com/hpcng/singularity/pull/5611
github.com/hpcng/singularity/commit/eba3dea260b117198fdb6faf41f2482ab2f8d53e
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00071.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00070.html
Show 20 moreShow less
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-11/msg00009.html
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15229
github.com/advisories/GHSA-7gcp-w6ww-2xv9
security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2020-15229
lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/VFW5R4J7EDFXFXU553USBOXIDLJTJNH5
bugzilla.suse.com/1177901
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-15229
lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/WNVFYEARGBVAQBFQWF2QYIVBZW76G7CP
lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/DY65G6E632UFVXYQXNZWRUZZG53N63DM
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-12021
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-19295
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-11328
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-19724
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-13845
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-13846
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-13847
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-25039
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-25040
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-29136
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-32635