CVE-2018-12021
Singularity Incorrect Access Control
CVE-2018-12021 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Sylabs Singularity, published July 5, 2018. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.44%, the 73rd percentile. Fixed in github.com/hpcng/singularity 2.5.2.
- Severity
- 6.5 MediumCVSS 3.0, NVD
- Exploit chance
- 1.44%EPSS, 73rd percentile
- Exploitation
- None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
- Fixed in
2.5.2github.com/hpcng/singularity +6 more
Description
Singularity 2.3.0 through 2.5.1 is affected by an incorrect access control on systems supporting overlay file system. When using the overlay option, a malicious user may access sensitive information by exploiting a few specific Singularity features.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
github.com/hpcng/singularityGo | 2.3.0 to 2.5.1 | 2.5.2 |
github.com/hpcng/singularityGo | 2.3.0 up to 2.5.2 | 2.5.2 |
singularity-containerUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | before 2.4.2-4ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 2.3.1-22.3.2-12.4.1-12.4.2-22.4.2-32.4.2-4 | 2.4.2-4ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
singularity-containerUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs | before 2.4.2-4ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 2.3.1-22.3.2-12.4.1-12.4.2-22.4.2-32.4.2-4 | 2.4.2-4ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
singularitySUSE:Package Hub 12 SP3 | before 2.3.2-11.1 | 2.3.2-11.1 |
singularitySUSE:Package Hub 12 SP3 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs | before 2.6.1-14.1 | 2.6.1-14.1 |
singularityopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 12 CVEs | before 3.8.3-1.2 | 3.8.3-1.2 |
What each source reports
NVD Score used
Singularity 2.3.0 through 2.5.1 is affected by an incorrect access control on systems supporting overlay file system. When using the overlay option, a malicious user may access sensitive information by exploiting a few specific Singularity features.
- Record
CVE-2018-12021- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 6.8 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-200
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE ListNo score
Singularity 2.3.0 through 2.5.1 is affected by an incorrect access control on systems supporting overlay file system. When using the overlay option, a malicious user may access sensitive information by exploiting a few specific Singularity features.
- Record
CVE-2018-12021- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-2468No score
Singularity 2.3.0 through 2.5.1 is affected by an incorrect access control on systems supporting overlay file system. When using the overlay option, a malicious user may access sensitive information by exploiting a few specific Singularity features.
- Record
EUVD-2022-2468- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4x32-h296-rg6j
Singularity Incorrect Access Control
Singularity 2.3.0 through 2.5.1 is affected by an incorrect access control on systems supporting overlay file system. When using the overlay option, a malicious user may access sensitive information by exploiting a few specific Singularity features.
- Record
GHSA-4x32-h296-rg6j- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-200
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Singularity 2.3.0 through 2.5.1 is affected by an incorrect access control on systems supporting overlay file system. When using the overlay option, a malicious user may access sensitive information by exploiting a few specific Singularity features.
- Record
CVE-2018-12021- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-4x32-h296-rg6j
Singularity Incorrect Access Control
Singularity 2.3.0 through 2.5.1 is affected by an incorrect access control on systems supporting overlay file system. When using the overlay option, a malicious user may access sensitive information by exploiting a few specific Singularity features.
- Record
GHSA-4x32-h296-rg6j- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-200
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 5 moreShow less
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2018-12021
Singularity 2.3.0 through 2.5.1 is affected by an incorrect access control on systems supporting overlay file system. When using the overlay option, a malicious user may access sensitive information by exploiting a few specific Singularity features.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2018-12021- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2018:1969-1No score
Security update for singularity
This update for singularity fixes the following issues:
- CVE-2018-12021: A race condition might have allowed malicious users to bypass directory image restrictions, like mounting the host root filesystem as a container image (boo#1100333)
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2018:1969-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2019:0095-1No score
Security update for singularity
This update for singularity to version 2.6.1 fixes the following issues:
Security issues fixed:
- CVE-2018-19295: Mount points are not mounted with shared mount propagation by default anymore, as this may result in privilege escalation (boo#1111411).
- CVE-2018-12021: Fixed a incorrect access control issues on systems supporting overlay file system (boo#1100333).
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2019:0095-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11384-1No 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
OSVUSN-4840-1No score
singularity-container vulnerabilities
It was discovered that Singularity incorrectly handled certain inputs. An attacker could possibly use this issue to obtain sensitive information. (CVE-2018-19295)
It was discovered that Singularity incorrectly handled access control. An attacker could possibly use this issue to obtain sensitive information. (CVE-2018-12021)
- Record
USN-4840-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
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.
References
github.com/singularityware/singularity/releases/tag/2.5.2
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/05/16/1
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12021
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-12021
Show 19 moreShow less
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12021
lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/security-announce@lists.opensuse.org/thread/BVVOAO2DTGDEH4FUXRM34QLEZB7OALKO
bugzilla.suse.com/1100333
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-12021