Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a low-severity Helm plugin handling flaw. A tampered plugin could use duplicate metadata entries so Helm uses the last entry, making it easier to alter install hooks and trigger local code execution during plugin installation.
Executive priority
Treat this as hygiene-level risk unless Helm plugin installation is common in CI or sensitive build environments. Prioritize upgrades during normal maintenance, with faster action where plugins are fetched from external sources.
Technical view
Helm before 2.16.11 and 3.3.2 accepted duplicate plugin entries and used the final duplicate. The advisory says this can lower the access needed to modify plugin install hooks when a plugin repository or archive is compromised during download.
Likely exposure
Exposure is mainly developer workstations, CI runners, and build systems using Helm 2.x before 2.16.11 or Helm 3.x before 3.3.2 that install plugins from untrusted or non-SSL sources.
Exploitation context
Sources do not report active exploitation, and KEV is false. Attack requires user interaction and attacker control over a plugin git repository, plugin archive, or non-SSL download path.
Researcher notes
The core issue is parser behavior around duplicate plugin entries. The public record identifies affected versions, patched versions, prerequisites, and SSL as a workaround, but does not provide evidence of exploitation in the wild.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Helm 2.x to 2.16.11 or later.
- Upgrade Helm 3.x to 3.3.2 or later.
- Install Helm plugins only over secure SSL connections.
- Check Helm vendor guidance before accepting third-party plugin workarounds.
- Prefer trusted plugin sources in developer and CI workflows.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Helm versions on workstations, CI runners, and build images.
- Identify Helm plugin installation workflows and their source URLs.
- Flag plugin installs that use non-SSL transport.
- Review installed plugins for unexpected install hooks or duplicate metadata entries.
- Confirm patched Helm versions reject unsafe duplicate plugin entries.
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.
CWE-694: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-74: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-15187 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Low
- CVSS
- 3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
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 vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N1.31.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
3LowVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/helm/helm/security/advisories/GHSA-c52f-pq47-2r9jCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/helm/helm/commit/6aab63765f99050b115f0aec3d6350c85e8da946CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/helm/helm/commit/ac7c07c37d87e09797f714fb57aa5e9cb99d9450CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/helm/helm/commit/b0296c0522e837d65f944beefa3fb64fd08ac304CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/helm/helm/commit/c8d6b01d72c9604e43ee70d0d78fadd54c2d8499CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/helm/helm/commit/d9ef5ce8bad512e325390c0011be1244b8380e4bCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/helm/helm/commit/f2ede29480b507b7d8bb152dd8b6b86248b00658CVE 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.
Use of Multiple Resources with Duplicate Identifier
Use of Multiple Resources with Duplicate Identifier represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.