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CVE-2026-19444

Kubernetes kubectl cp path traversal on Windows allows arbitrary file writes

Published
Last modified
published
Not listed in CISA KEV
Fix
Fix or patch referenced
None on Exploit-DB, Metasploit or GitHub
  • Exploitation: none
  • Automatable: no
  • Technical impact: partial

Summary

A path traversal vulnerability was discovered in the Kubernetes kubectl client's kubectl cp command on Windows. When copying files from a container, kubectl runs tar inside the container to build a tar archive, transfers it over the network, and unpacks it on the local machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it can execute arbitrary code and emit unexpected output, allowing an attacker who controls container contents to write files to arbitrary paths on the user's local machine when kubectl cp is invoked, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. This issue only affects kubectl clients running on Windows.

Timeline

  1. CVE published
  2. CISA SSVC assessment

    Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: partial

  3. Record last updated

Affected versions

  • Kubernetes Kubernetes

    From v1.36.0 · through v1.36.4; From v1.35.0 · through v1.35.8; From v1.34.0 · through v1.34.11

References 3

GitHub · kubernetes/kubernetes

groups.google.com