CVE-2026-50195

Description

containerd is an open-source container runtime. Versions prior to 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9 contain a vulnerability in the CRI checkpoint import process where it fails to validate the image references specified within a checkpoint image's configuration. An attacker with permissions to create pods can use a crafted checkpoint image to force containerd to pull a malicious image and assign it an arbitrary local tag, thereby poisoning the node's local image cache. Subsequently, if other pods on the same node attempt to use the poisoned tag with an IfNotPresent (or Never) pull policy, they will unknowingly execute the attacker's malicious image instead of the legitimate one. This can lead to a compromise of the affected pods, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code under the victim pod's identity. This issue has been fixed in versions 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9.

CVSS v3.1 Score

9.9

CRITICAL

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

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0035

Probability of exploitation

0.28%

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-345 CWE-345

CWE-829 CWE-829

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
linuxfoundation	containerd	2.1.0 — 2.1.9
linuxfoundation	containerd	2.2.0 — 2.2.5
linuxfoundation	containerd	2.3.0 — 2.3.2

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/containerd/containerd/security/advisories/GHSA-cvxm-645q-p574

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-50195? +

containerd is an open-source container runtime. Versions prior to 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9 contain a vulnerability in the CRI checkpoint import process where it fails to validate the image references specified within a checkpoint image's configuration. An attacker with permissions to create pods can use a crafted checkpoint image to force containerd to pull a malicious image and assign it an arbitrary local tag, thereby poisoning the node's local image cache. Subsequently, if other pods on the same node attempt to use the poisoned tag with an IfNotPresent (or Never) pull policy, they will unknowingly execute the attacker's malicious image instead of the legitimate one. This can lead to a compromise of the affected pods, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code under the victim pod's identity. This issue has been fixed in versions 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.9 (CRITICAL).

How severe is CVE-2026-50195? +

CVE-2026-50195 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.9 out of 10, rated CRITICAL. This is a critical vulnerability that should be patched immediately. The EPSS score is 0.0035, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-50195? +

CVE-2026-50195 affects products from linuxfoundation, specifically: containerd. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-50195? +

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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