CVE-2026-19444
Kubernetes kubectl cp path traversal on Windows allows arbitrary file writes
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Adjacent network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- High
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
6.5
Kubernetes kubectl cp path traversal on Windows allows arbitrary file writes
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.
- Record
CVE-2026-19444- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-88223
6.5
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.
- Record
EUVD-2026-88223- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-pw89-p422-jr5j
6.5
A path traversal vulnerability was discovered in the Kubernetes kubectl client's kubectl cp...
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.
- Record
GHSA-pw89-p422-jr5j- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
6.5
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.
- Record
CVE-2026-19444- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
6.5
Kubernetes kubectl cp path traversal on Windows allows arbitrary file writes
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.
- Record
CVE-2026-19444- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2026-4460
6.5
kubernetes security update
Container cluster management.
Security Fix(es):
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.(CVE-2026-19444)
- Record
OESA-2026-4460- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVOESA-2026-4461
6.5
kubernetes security update
Container cluster management.
Security Fix(es):
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.(CVE-2026-19444)
- Record
OESA-2026-4461- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2026-4462
6.5
kubernetes security update
Container cluster management.
Security Fix(es):
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.(CVE-2026-19444)
- Record
OESA-2026-4462- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2026-4463
6.5
kubernetes security update
Container cluster management.
Security Fix(es):
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.(CVE-2026-19444)
- Record
OESA-2026-4463- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVAZL-105173 No score
CVE-2026-19444 affecting package kubernetes 1.30.10-30
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.
- Record
AZL-105173- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
kubernetesAzure Linux:3 |
through 1.30.10-30 | None known |
kubernetesopenEuler:22.03-LTS-SP4 |
before 1.20.2-33.oe2203sp4 | 1.20.2-33.oe2203sp4 |
kubernetesopenEuler:24.03-LTS-SP1 |
before 1.29.1-19.oe2403sp1 | 1.29.1-19.oe2403sp1 |
kubernetesopenEuler:24.03-LTS-SP3 |
before 1.29.1-19.oe2403sp3 | 1.29.1-19.oe2403sp3 |
kubernetesopenEuler:24.03-LTS-SP4 |
before 1.29.1-19.oe2403sp4 | 1.29.1-19.oe2403sp4 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-19444 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Kubernetes, published September 28, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.23%, the 13th percentile. Fixed in kubernetes 1.20.2-33.oe2203sp4.
References
github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/141294
github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/141296
groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/v_ob5Gf4-eY
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/28/1
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-19444
github.com/advisories/GHSA-pw89-p422-jr5j
Show 6 moreShow less
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/19xxx/CVE-2026-19444.json
github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes
openeuler.org/zh/security/security-bulletins/detail?id=openEuler-SA-2026-4460
openeuler.org/zh/security/security-bulletins/detail?id=openEuler-SA-2026-4461
openeuler.org/zh/security/security-bulletins/detail?id=openEuler-SA-2026-4462
openeuler.org/zh/security/security-bulletins/detail?id=openEuler-SA-2026-4463