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.
Published: 2026-09-28
Score: 6.5 Medium
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

No analysis available yet.

Remediation

No remediation available yet.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title Kubernetes kubectl cp path traversal on Windows allows arbitrary file writes
Weaknesses CWE-22
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N'}


Subscriptions

No data.

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: kubernetes

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-28T11:38:10.699Z

Reserved: 2026-08-10T13:29:40.767Z

Link: CVE-2026-19444

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses
  • CWE-22

    Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')