GCVE Workshop - 22 September 2026 (14:00-18:00), Luxembourg Before The Vulnopticon Conference - Registration

CVE-2026-50540 (GCVE-0-2026-50540)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-08-07 20:56 – Updated: 2026-08-24 06:13
VLAI
Title
Kata Containers: Config Path Annotation Arbitrary File Loading
Summary
Kata Containers is an open source project focusing on a standard implementation of lightweight Virtual Machines (VMs) that perform like containers. Prior to version 4.0.0, kata-runtime is vulnerable to host code execution via an unvalidated configuration path annotation. The runtime accepts an arbitrary io.katacontainers.config_path pod annotation and loads the referenced host TOML file without restriction. As a result, a pod user who can place a file at a host-visible path can supply a configuration that selects an attacker-controlled hypervisor or virtio-fs daemon binary, executing code as root on the host. This issue is fixed in version 4.0.0.
Severity
9.6 (Critical)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
SSVC
Exploitation: none Automatable: no Technical Impact: total
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2026-08-12 22:09 UTC
CWE
  • CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation
  • CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
kata-containers kata-containers Affected: < 4.0.0
guessed Create a notification for this product.
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-50540",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-08-12T22:09:40.538007Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-08-12T22:15:26.669Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      },
      {
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-08-24T06:13:27.182Z",
          "orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "shortName": "CVE"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/23/3"
          },
          {
            "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/24/1"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CVE Program Container"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "kata-containers",
          "vendor": "kata-containers",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 4.0.0"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Kata Containers is an open source project focusing on a standard implementation of lightweight Virtual Machines (VMs) that perform like containers. Prior to version 4.0.0, kata-runtime is vulnerable to host code execution via an unvalidated configuration path annotation. The runtime accepts an arbitrary io.katacontainers.config_path pod annotation and loads the referenced host TOML file without restriction. As a result, a pod user who can place a file at a host-visible path can supply a configuration that selects an attacker-controlled hypervisor or virtio-fs daemon binary, executing code as root on the host. This issue is fixed in version 4.0.0."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackVector": "NETWORK",
            "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "baseScore": 9.6,
            "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
            "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "scope": "CHANGED",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N",
            "version": "3.1"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-20",
              "description": "CWE-20: Improper Input Validation",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-22",
              "description": "CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (\u0027Path Traversal\u0027)",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-07T20:56:26.209Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/security/advisories/GHSA-mp2j-xm59-qfgw",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/security/advisories/GHSA-mp2j-xm59-qfgw"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/commit/03cc670076099530f4e1e9cb22849afdafb20f65",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/commit/03cc670076099530f4e1e9cb22849afdafb20f65"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-mp2j-xm59-qfgw",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "Kata Containers: Config Path Annotation Arbitrary File Loading"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-50540",
    "datePublished": "2026-08-07T20:56:26.209Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-06-04T20:37:18.653Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-24T06:13:27.182Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2026-50540",
      "date": "2026-09-17",
      "epss": "0.00403",
      "percentile": "0.34142"
    },
    "microsoft_vex": {
      "current_release_date": "2026-08-23T14:44:01.000Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-50540",
      "id": "msrc_CVE-2026-50540",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-08-09T01:01:47.000Z",
      "product_status:fixed": "1",
      "product_status:known_affected": "2",
      "source": "Microsoft CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "Kata Containers: Config Path Annotation Arbitrary File Loading",
      "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2026/msrc_cve-2026-50540.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2026-50540\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"published\":\"2026-08-07T21:17:28.827\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-09-09T21:02:22.660\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Deferred\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"Kata Containers is an open source project focusing on a standard implementation of lightweight Virtual Machines (VMs) that perform like containers. Prior to version 4.0.0, kata-runtime is vulnerable to host code execution via an unvalidated configuration path annotation. The runtime accepts an arbitrary io.katacontainers.config_path pod annotation and loads the referenced host TOML file without restriction. As a result, a pod user who can place a file at a host-visible path can supply a configuration that selects an attacker-controlled hypervisor or virtio-fs daemon binary, executing code as root on the host. This issue is fixed in version 4.0.0.\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"kata-containers\",\"product\":\"kata-containers\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"\u003c 4.0.0\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV31\":[{\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N\",\"baseScore\":9.6,\"baseSeverity\":\"CRITICAL\",\"attackVector\":\"NETWORK\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"LOW\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"CHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"NONE\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":3.1,\"impactScore\":5.8}],\"ssvcV203\":[{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"ssvcData\":{\"timestamp\":\"2026-08-12T22:09:40.538007Z\",\"id\":\"CVE-2026-50540\",\"options\":[{\"exploitation\":\"none\"},{\"automatable\":\"no\"},{\"technicalImpact\":\"total\"}],\"role\":\"CISA Coordinator\",\"version\":\"2.0.3\"}}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-20\"},{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-22\"}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/commit/03cc670076099530f4e1e9cb22849afdafb20f65\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/security/advisories/GHSA-mp2j-xm59-qfgw\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/23/3\",\"source\":\"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108\"},{\"url\":\"http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/24/1\",\"source\":\"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108\"}]}}",
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Important",
      "current_release_date": "2026-08-21T13:37:26+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-50540",
      "id": "CVE-2026-50540",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-07-20T12:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_affected": "3",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "kata-runtime: kata-runtime-rs: Kata Containers: Arbitrary code execution via manipulated configuration path",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-50540.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "vulnrichment": {
      "containers": "{\"adp\": [{\"title\": \"CVE Program Container\", \"references\": [{\"url\": \"http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/23/3\"}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108\", \"shortName\": \"CVE\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-08-23T21:05:12.490Z\"}}, {\"title\": \"CISA ADP Vulnrichment\", \"metrics\": [{\"other\": {\"type\": \"ssvc\", \"content\": {\"id\": \"CVE-2026-50540\", \"role\": \"CISA Coordinator\", \"options\": [{\"Exploitation\": \"none\"}, {\"Automatable\": \"no\"}, {\"Technical Impact\": \"total\"}], \"version\": \"2.0.3\", \"timestamp\": \"2026-08-12T22:09:40.538007Z\"}}}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\", \"shortName\": \"CISA-ADP\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-08-12T22:09:42.119Z\"}}], \"cna\": {\"title\": \"Kata Containers: Config Path Annotation Arbitrary File Loading\", \"source\": {\"advisory\": \"GHSA-mp2j-xm59-qfgw\", \"discovery\": \"UNKNOWN\"}, \"metrics\": [{\"cvssV3_1\": {\"scope\": \"CHANGED\", \"version\": \"3.1\", \"baseScore\": 9.6, \"attackVector\": \"NETWORK\", \"baseSeverity\": \"CRITICAL\", \"vectorString\": \"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N\", \"integrityImpact\": \"HIGH\", \"userInteraction\": \"NONE\", \"attackComplexity\": \"LOW\", \"availabilityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"privilegesRequired\": \"LOW\", \"confidentialityImpact\": \"HIGH\"}}], \"affected\": [{\"vendor\": \"kata-containers\", \"product\": \"kata-containers\", \"versions\": [{\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"\u003c 4.0.0\"}]}], \"references\": [{\"url\": \"https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/security/advisories/GHSA-mp2j-xm59-qfgw\", \"name\": \"https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/security/advisories/GHSA-mp2j-xm59-qfgw\", \"tags\": [\"x_refsource_CONFIRM\"]}, {\"url\": \"https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/commit/03cc670076099530f4e1e9cb22849afdafb20f65\", \"name\": \"https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/commit/03cc670076099530f4e1e9cb22849afdafb20f65\", \"tags\": [\"x_refsource_MISC\"]}], \"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"value\": \"Kata Containers is an open source project focusing on a standard implementation of lightweight Virtual Machines (VMs) that perform like containers. Prior to version 4.0.0, kata-runtime is vulnerable to host code execution via an unvalidated configuration path annotation. The runtime accepts an arbitrary io.katacontainers.config_path pod annotation and loads the referenced host TOML file without restriction. As a result, a pod user who can place a file at a host-visible path can supply a configuration that selects an attacker-controlled hypervisor or virtio-fs daemon binary, executing code as root on the host. This issue is fixed in version 4.0.0.\"}], \"problemTypes\": [{\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"CWE\", \"cweId\": \"CWE-20\", \"description\": \"CWE-20: Improper Input Validation\"}]}, {\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"CWE\", \"cweId\": \"CWE-22\", \"description\": \"CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (\u0027Path Traversal\u0027)\"}]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa\", \"shortName\": \"GitHub_M\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-08-07T20:56:26.209Z\"}}}",
      "cveMetadata": "{\"cveId\": \"CVE-2026-50540\", \"state\": \"PUBLISHED\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-08-23T21:05:12.490Z\", \"dateReserved\": \"2026-06-04T20:37:18.653Z\", \"assignerOrgId\": \"a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa\", \"datePublished\": \"2026-08-07T20:56:26.209Z\", \"assignerShortName\": \"GitHub_M\"}",
      "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
      "dataVersion": "5.2"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.


Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.