Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-1000849 affects Alpine Linux apk-tools, the package manager. A malicious APK package could make apk write data to a file chosen by the attacker, creating remote code execution risk when vulnerable systems process crafted packages.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where Alpine is used in production containers, CI/CD build systems, or package ingestion workflows. The business risk is highest where attackers could influence package contents or repositories.
Technical view
The issue is in apk-tools versions before 2.6.10, 2.7.6, and 2.10.1. The CVE describes bugs in handling long link target names and regular file extraction, allowing arbitrary data writes from a crafted APK file.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in Alpine Linux hosts, containers, or build environments using vulnerable apk-tools and installing APK files from untrusted or compromised sources.
Exploitation context
The sources describe a crafted APK-file attack and include a public technical write-up. The bundle does not indicate CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation.
Researcher notes
The core primitive is attacker-controlled file write during APK extraction, tied to long link target handling and regular file extraction. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, or detailed affected CPE data.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade apk-tools to 2.6.10, 2.7.6, 2.10.1, or later.
- Rebuild Alpine-based container images from fixed base images.
- Avoid installing APK files from untrusted repositories or direct package downloads.
- Check Alpine release notes and vendor guidance for affected branch handling.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Alpine Linux systems, containers, and CI build images.
- Confirm installed apk-tools versions are at or above fixed versions.
- Review package installation sources for untrusted or nonstandard APK inputs.
- Check container base image tags against Alpine fixed release guidance.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-1000849 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://justi.cz/security/2018/09/13/alpine-apk-rce.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://alpinelinux.org/posts/Alpine-3.8.1-released.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://git.alpinelinux.org/cgit/apk-tools/commit/?id=6484ed9849f03971eb48ee1fdc21a2f128247eb1CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.