CVE-2020-1702: A malicious container image can consume an unbounded amount of memory when being pulled to a container runtime

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-1702?

containers-image: upgrade to 5.2.0; enterprise linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-1702 being exploited?

CVE-2020-1702 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2020-1702 affect?

CVE-2020-1702 affects containers-image, enterprise linux. Severity is low (CVSS 3.3). A malicious container image can consume an unbounded amount of memory when being pulled to a container runtime host, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux using podman, or OpenShift Container Platform. An attacker can use this flaw to trick a us

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-1702?

Priority 30/100. On your watchlist

Routine

LOW 3.3WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-1702 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 3.3) affecting containers-image, enterprise linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A malicious container image can consume an unbounded amount of memory when being pulled to a container runtime host, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux using podman, or OpenShift Container Platform. An attacker can use this flaw to trick a user, with privileges to pull container images, into crashing the process responsible for pulling the image. This flaw affects containers-image versions before 5.2.0.

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	3.3 (Low)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.7% (top 47%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-400
Published	2021-05-27
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: containers-image project · redhat

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-05-27 20:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:02 UTCUpdated Record last modified

containers-image project containers-image UPGRADE

Affected: < 5.2.0

Fixed in: 5.2.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy containers-image || rpm -q containers-image || containers-image --version

2. UPGRADE to 5.2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade containers-image

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade containers-image

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-1702?

containers-image: upgrade to 5.2.0; enterprise linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-1702 being exploited?

CVE-2020-1702 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-1702 affect?

CVE-2020-1702 affects containers-image, enterprise linux. Severity is low (CVSS 3.3). A malicious container image can consume an unbounded amount of memory when being pulled to a container runtime host, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux using podman, or OpenShift Container Platform. An attacker can use this flaw to trick a us

How urgent is CVE-2020-1702?

Priority 30/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Red Hat Enterprise Linux vulnerabilities · Red Hat OpenShift vulnerabilities · Podman vulnerabilities

References

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