Answer in brief
CVE-2021-3602 records a Medium severity (CVSS 5.5) vulnerability in Buildah processes using chroot isolation may leak environment values to intermediate processes. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps github.com/containers/buildah (go), github.com/containers/buildah (go), github.com/containers/buildah (go), github.com/containers/buildah (go). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.
Analysis pending evidence review
HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.
CVSS is 5.5. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.
Analysis status
Analysis pending evidence review
Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.
The current feed maps github.com/containers/buildah (go), github.com/containers/buildah (go), github.com/containers/buildah (go), github.com/containers/buildah (go). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| github.com/containers/buildahgo | >=0 <1.16.8 | 1.16.8 |
| github.com/containers/buildahgo | >=1.17.0 <1.17.2 | 1.17.2 |
| github.com/containers/buildahgo | >=1.18.0 <1.19.9 | 1.19.9 |
| github.com/containers/buildahgo | >=1.20.0 <1.21.3 | 1.21.3 |
Published upstream
Jul 19, 2021
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:recordSource modified
Sep 10, 2026
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:recordFirst seen by HOL
Sep 10, 2026
### Impact When running processes using "chroot" isolation, the process being run can examine the environment variables of its immediate parent and grandparent processes (CVE-2021-3602). This isolation type is often used when running `buildah` in unprivileged containers, and it is often used to do so in CI/CD environments. If sensitive information is exposed to the original `buildah` process through its environment, that information will unintentionally be shared with child processes which it starts as part of handling RUN instructions or during `buildah run`. The commands that `buildah` is instructed to run can read that information if they choose to. ### Patches Users should upgrade packages, or images which contain packages, to include version 1.21.3 or later. ### Workarounds As a workaround, invoking `buildah` in a container under `env -i` to have it started with a reinitialized environment should prevent the leakage. ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [buildah](https://github.com/containers/buildah/issues) * Email us at [the buildah general mailing list](mailto:[email protected]), or [the podman security mailing list](mailto:[email protected]) if it's sensitive.
Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.