CVE-2026-13201
published 2026-06-24CVE-2026-13201: A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package used by virt-handler. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path…
PriorityP341high7.3CVSS 3.1
AVLACLPRLUINSCCNILAH
EPSS
0.12%
2.4th percentile
A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package used by virt-handler. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path leaf, but downstream operations resolve the path via /proc/self/fd/N using link-following syscalls. When the leaf is a symlink, the kernel dereferences it, defeating the intended no-follow protection. An attacker with access to a virt-launcher pod can exploit this to redirect virt-handler's IPC socket connections, including the notify socket used for VM domain lifecycle events. By hijacking this socket, the attacker can inject arbitrary domain events into virt-handler, causing it to take incorrect lifecycle actions, corrupt VM state in the Kubernetes API, or crash — resulting in sustained denial of VM management services for all virtual machines on the affected node. Additionally, the same symlink following flaw allows virt-handler to apply file ownership or permission changes to unintended host paths.
Affected
3 ranges
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| container-native-virtualization | virt-handler | — | — |
| container-native-virtualization | virt-handler-rhel9 | — | — |
| redhat | openshift_virtualization | 4 – 4.22.0 | — |
CVSS provenance
nvdv3.17.3HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H
vendor_redhat5.2MEDIUM
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GHSA
A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package.
ghsa_unreviewed·2026-06-24
CVE-2026-13201 [MEDIUM] CWE-61 A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package.
A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path leaf, but downstream helpers operate via /proc/self/fd/N using link-following syscalls. When the leaf is a symlink, the kernel dereferences it, defeating the intended no-follow protection. An attacker with access to a virt-launcher pod can exploit this to cause virt-handler to apply file ownership or permission changes to an unintended host path.
Red Hat
kubevirt: virt-handler-rhel9: kubevirt: safepath OpenAtNoFollow symlink following via /proc/self/fd allows host file metadata modification
vendor_redhat·2026-06-24·CVSS 5.2
CVE-2026-13201 [MEDIUM] CWE-61 kubevirt: virt-handler-rhel9: kubevirt: safepath OpenAtNoFollow symlink following via /proc/self/fd allows host file metadata modification
kubevirt: virt-handler-rhel9: kubevirt: safepath OpenAtNoFollow symlink following via /proc/self/fd allows host file metadata modification
A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path leaf, but downstream helpers operate via /proc/self/fd/N using link-following syscalls. When the leaf is a symlink, the kernel dereferences it, defeating the intended no-follow protection. An attacker with access to a virt-launcher pod can exploit this to cause virt-handler to apply file ownership or permission changes to an unintended host path.
Statement: A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package where OpenAtNoFollow obtains a file descriptor to a leaf symlink using O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW, then downstream helpers
No detection rules found.
No public exploits indexed.
2026-06-24
Published