HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2019-5736

HIGHPOC

CVE-2019-5736

CWE-78Published: February 11, 2019· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

8.6

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

runc through 1.0-rc6, as used in Docker before 18.09.2 and other products, allows attackers to overwrite the host runc binary (and consequently obtain host root access) by leveraging the ability to execute a command as root within one of these types of containers: (1) a new container with an attacker-controlled image, or (2) an existing container, to which the attacker previously had write access, that can be attached with docker exec. This occurs because of file-descriptor mishandling, related to /proc/self/exe.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2019-5736 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation does not require any privileges, though user interaction (Required) is needed, which slightly reduces the risk of mass automated attacks.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.6.

The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2019-5736. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability

Attack VectorLocal

Attack ComplexityLow

Privileges Req.None

User InteractionRequired

ScopeChanged

Impact

ConfidentialityHigh

IntegrityHigh

AvailabilityHigh

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Apache1 product(s)

mesos

Canonical1 product(s)

ubuntu linux

d2iq2 product(s)

kubernetes enginedc\/os

Docker1 product(s)

docker

Fedora1 product(s)

fedora

Google1 product(s)

kubernetes engine

HP1 product(s)

onesphere

linuxcontainers1 product(s)

lxc

linuxfoundation1 product(s)

runc

microfocus1 product(s)

service management automation

netapp2 product(s)

hci management nodesolidfire

openSUSE2 product(s)

backports sleleap

Red Hat4 product(s)

container development kitopenshiftenterprise linuxenterprise linux server

Source: NVD CPE · 32 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

POC AVAILABLEProof-of-concept code exists

Offensive Security exploit database

GitHub PoC Search

Community PoC repositories

Rapid7 / Metasploit

Metasploit module search

Security advisories & exploits

Official NIST entry

CVE Program entry

External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

PATCHhttps://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/cve-2019-5736-and-runc-vulnerability/

PATCHhttps://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/iot-edge-fix-cve-2019-5736/

PATCHhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1121967

PATCHhttps://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/0a8e4117e7f715d5fbeef398405813ce8e88558b

PATCHhttps://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/6635b4f0c6af3810594d2770f662f34ddc15b40d

PATCHhttps://support.mesosphere.com/s/article/Known-Issue-Container-Runtime-Vulnerability-MSPH-2019-0003

PATCHhttps://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/02/11/2

PATCHhttps://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/cve-2019-5736-and-runc-vulnerability/

PATCHhttps://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/iot-edge-fix-cve-2019-5736/

PATCHhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1121967

PATCHhttps://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/0a8e4117e7f715d5fbeef398405813ce8e88558b

PATCHhttps://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/6635b4f0c6af3810594d2770f662f34ddc15b40d

PATCHhttps://support.mesosphere.com/s/article/Known-Issue-Container-Runtime-Vulnerability-MSPH-2019-0003

PATCHhttps://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/02/11/2

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-03/msg00044.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00074.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00091.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00060.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00073.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00011.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00015.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00084.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00007.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00029.html

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163339/Docker-Container-Escape.html

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/165197/Docker-runc-Command-Execution-Proof-Of-Concept.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/03/23/1

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/06/28/2

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/07/06/3

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/07/06/4

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/10/24/1

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/10/29/3

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106976

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0303

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0304

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0401

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0408

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0975

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2019-5736

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/security/vulnerabilities/runcescape

ADVISORYhttps://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/AWS-2019-002/

ADVISORYhttps://blog.dragonsector.pl/2019/02/cve-2019-5736-escape-from-docker-and.html

ADVISORYhttps://brauner.github.io/2019/02/12/privileged-containers.html

ADVISORYhttps://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/security-bulletins#february-11-2019-runc

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/Frichetten/CVE-2019-5736-PoC

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/docker/docker-ce/releases/tag/v18.09.2

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/q3k/cve-2019-5736-poc

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/rancher/runc-cve

ADVISORYhttps://kubernetes.io/blog/2019/02/11/runc-and-cve-2019-5736/

ADVISORYhttps://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-21

ADVISORYhttps://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190307-0008/

ADVISORYhttps://softwaresupport.softwaregrp.com/document/-/facetsearch/document/KM03410944

ADVISORYhttps://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20190215-runc

ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4048-1/

ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46359/

ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46369/

ADVISORYhttps://www.synology.com/security/advisory/Synology_SA_19_06

ADVISORYhttps://www.twistlock.com/2019/02/11/how-to-mitigate-cve-2019-5736-in-runc-and-docker/

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-03/msg00044.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00074.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00091.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00060.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00073.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00011.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00015.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00084.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00007.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00029.html

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163339/Docker-Container-Escape.html

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/165197/Docker-runc-Command-Execution-Proof-Of-Concept.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/03/23/1

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/06/28/2

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/07/06/3

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/07/06/4

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/10/24/1

ADVISORYhttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/10/29/3

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106976

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0303

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0304

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0401

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0408

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0975

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2019-5736

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/security/vulnerabilities/runcescape

ADVISORYhttps://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/AWS-2019-002/

ADVISORYhttps://blog.dragonsector.pl/2019/02/cve-2019-5736-escape-from-docker-and.html

ADVISORYhttps://brauner.github.io/2019/02/12/privileged-containers.html

ADVISORYhttps://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/security-bulletins#february-11-2019-runc

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/Frichetten/CVE-2019-5736-PoC

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/docker/docker-ce/releases/tag/v18.09.2

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/q3k/cve-2019-5736-poc

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/rancher/runc-cve

ADVISORYhttps://kubernetes.io/blog/2019/02/11/runc-and-cve-2019-5736/

ADVISORYhttps://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-21

ADVISORYhttps://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190307-0008/

ADVISORYhttps://softwaresupport.softwaregrp.com/document/-/facetsearch/document/KM03410944

ADVISORYhttps://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20190215-runc

ADVISORYhttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4048-1/

ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46359/

ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46369/

ADVISORYhttps://www.synology.com/security/advisory/Synology_SA_19_06

ADVISORYhttps://www.twistlock.com/2019/02/11/how-to-mitigate-cve-2019-5736-in-runc-and-docker/

All References (132)

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-03/msg00044.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00074.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00091.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00060.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00073.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00011.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00015.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00084.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00007.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00029.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163339/Docker-Container-Escape.htmlExploit · Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/165197/Docker-runc-Command-Execution-Proof-Of-Concept.htmlThird Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/03/23/1Mailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/06/28/2Mailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/07/06/3Mailing List · Third Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2019-5736

CVSS Score8.6 / 10

SeverityHIGH

WeaknessCWE-78

CISA KEVNo

ExploitPOC

Affected13 vendor(s)

PublishedFeb 11, 2019

Related CVEs (CWE-78)

Recommended Actions

→Apply vendor patches immediately
→Monitor CVE-2019-5736 in threat intel feeds
→Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts

Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWatch. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.

← All Vulnerabilities·Search for CVE-2019-5736·NVD