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CVE-2019-11246

kubectl cp allows symlink directory traversal

6.4 MediumFix available

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes runs tar inside the container to create a tar archive, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user’s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user’s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. Kubernetes affected versions include versions prior to 1.12.9, versions prior to 1.13.6, versions prior to 1.14.2, and versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
High
User interaction
Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

3.63%Up 3.2 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 6.4

kubectl cp allows symlink directory traversal

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes runs tar inside the container to create a tar archive, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user’s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user’s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. Kubernetes affected versions include versions prior to 1.12.9, versions prior to 1.13.6, versions prior to 1.14.2, and versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11.

Record
CVE-2019-11246
CVSS 3.0
6.4 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-61
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2019-2942 6.4

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes runs tar inside the container to create a tar archive, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user’s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user’s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. Kubernetes affected versions include versions prior to 1.12.9, versions prior to 1.13.6, versions prior to 1.14.2, and versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11.

Record
EUVD-2019-2942
CVSS 3.0
6.4 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-8wj5-gvvw-f5fh No score

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy...

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes runs tar inside the container to create a tar archive, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user?s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user?s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. Kubernetes affected versions include versions prior to 1.12.9, versions prior to 1.13.6, versions prior to 1.14.2, and versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11.

Record
GHSA-8wj5-gvvw-f5fh
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 6.5

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes runs tar inside the container to create a tar archive, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user’s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user’s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. Kubernetes affected versions include versions prior to 1.12.9, versions prior to 1.13.6, versions prior to 1.14.2, and versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11.

Record
CVE-2019-11246
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
CVSS 3.0
6.4 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
4.3 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
Weakness
CWE-61, CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 6.5

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes runs tar inside the container to create a tar archive, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user’s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user’s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. Kubernetes affected versions include versions prior to 1.12.9, versions prior to 1.13.6, versions prior to 1.14.2, and versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11.

Record
CVE-2019-11246
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2019:1632 5.3

Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.10 atomic-openshift security update

Record
RHSA-2019:1632
CVSS 3.0
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2019:1633 5.3

Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11 atomic-openshift security update

Record
RHSA-2019:1633
CVSS 3.0
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2019:1852 5.3

Red Hat Security Advisory: OpenShift Container Platform 3.9 atomic-openshift security update

Record
RHSA-2019:1852
CVSS 3.0
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2019-11246 6.5

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes runs tar inside the container to create a tar archive, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user’s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user’s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. Kubernetes affected versions include versions prior to 1.12.9, versions prior to 1.13.6, versions prior to 1.14.2, and versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2019-11246
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
CVSS 3.0
6.4 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
atomic-openshift
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-clients
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-docker-excluder
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-excluder
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-hyperkube
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-hypershift
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-master
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-node
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-pod
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
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Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
atomic-openshift-sdn-ovs
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-template-service-broker
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift-tests
Red Hat:openshift:3.10::el7
before 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7
atomic-openshift
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-clients
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-docker-excluder
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-excluder
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-hyperkube
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-hypershift
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-master
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-node
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-pod
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-sdn-ovs
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-template-service-broker
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift-tests
Red Hat:openshift:3.11::el7
before 0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
0:3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7
atomic-openshift
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-clients
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-cluster-capacity
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-docker-excluder
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-excluder
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-federation-services
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-master
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-node
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-pod
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-sdn-ovs
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-service-catalog
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-template-service-broker
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
atomic-openshift-tests
Red Hat:openshift:3.9::el7
before 0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7
0:3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected
aliases, publishedEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2019-11246 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.4) in Kubernetes, published August 29, 2019. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 3.63%, the 89th percentile. Fixed in atomic-openshift 0:3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7.

References

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