CVE-2026-19444: Path Traversal (CVSS 6.5)

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.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

6.5

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0020

Probability of exploitation

0.09%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-22 Path Traversal

References

Other References

https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/141294 https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/141296 https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/v_ob5Gf4-eY http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/28/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-19444? +

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. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2026-19444? +

CVE-2026-19444 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 6.5 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance. The EPSS score is 0.0020, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-19444? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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