CVE-2026-19444
Published:September 28, 2026
Updated:October 09, 2026
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.
Affected Packages
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v1.24.0-alpha.0 <v1.34.12Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v1.34.12https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v1.35.0 <v1.35.9Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v1.35.9https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v1.37.0-alpha.0 <v1.37.0Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v1.37.0https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v1.36.0 <v1.36.5Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v1.36.5k8s.io/kubectl (GO):
Affected version(s) >=v0.35.0 <v0.35.9Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v0.35.9k8s.io/kubectl (GO):
Affected version(s) >=v0.37.0-alpha.0 <v0.37.0Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v0.37.0k8s.io/kubectl (GO):
Affected version(s) >=v0.19.0-rc.0 <v0.34.12Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v0.34.12k8s.io/kubectl (GO):
Affected version(s) >=v0.36.0 <v0.36.5Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v0.36.5Related Resources (7)
Do you need more information?
Contact UsCVSS v4
Base Score:
6.8
Attack Vector
ADJACENT
Attack Complexity
LOW
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
HIGH
User Interaction
PASSIVE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
LOW
Vulnerable System Integrity
HIGH
Vulnerable System Availability
NONE
Subsequent System Confidentiality
LOW
Subsequent System Integrity
HIGH
Subsequent System Availability
NONE
CVSS v3
Base Score:
6.5
Attack Vector
ADJACENT
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
HIGH
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
LOW
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Weakness Type (CWE)
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
EPSS
Base Score:
0.20