Kata Containers is an open source project focusing on a standard implementation of lightweight Virtual Machines (VMs) that perform like containers. Prior to version 4.0.0, kata-runtime is vulnerable to host code execution via an unvalidated configuration path annotation. The runtime accepts an arbitrary io.katacontainers.config_path pod annotation and loads the referenced host TOML file without restriction. As a result, a pod user who can place a file at a host-visible path can supply a configuration that selects an attacker-controlled hypervisor or virtio-fs daemon binary, executing code as root on the host. This issue is fixed in version 4.0.0.
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Fixes

Solution

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Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 23:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 07 Aug 2026 21:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in Kata Containers, affecting both its Rust and Go runtimes. An authenticated pod user can exploit this by setting the `io.katacontainers.config_path` annotation to an arbitrary configuration file on the host. This allows the attacker to control privileged runtime settings, leading to the execution of malicious binaries as root on the host system. The primary consequence is arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. Kata Containers is an open source project focusing on a standard implementation of lightweight Virtual Machines (VMs) that perform like containers. Prior to version 4.0.0, kata-runtime is vulnerable to host code execution via an unvalidated configuration path annotation. The runtime accepts an arbitrary io.katacontainers.config_path pod annotation and loads the referenced host TOML file without restriction. As a result, a pod user who can place a file at a host-visible path can supply a configuration that selects an attacker-controlled hypervisor or virtio-fs daemon binary, executing code as root on the host. This issue is fixed in version 4.0.0.
Title kata-runtime: kata-runtime-rs: Kata Containers: Arbitrary code execution via manipulated configuration path Kata Containers: Config Path Annotation Arbitrary File Loading
Weaknesses CWE-22
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N'}


Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Katacontainers
Katacontainers kata-containers
Vendors & Products Katacontainers
Katacontainers kata-containers

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in Kata Containers, affecting both its Rust and Go runtimes. An authenticated pod user can exploit this by setting the `io.katacontainers.config_path` annotation to an arbitrary configuration file on the host. This allows the attacker to control privileged runtime settings, leading to the execution of malicious binaries as root on the host system. The primary consequence is arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges.
Title kata-runtime: kata-runtime-rs: Kata Containers: Arbitrary code execution via manipulated configuration path
Weaknesses CWE-20
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important


Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-12T22:15:26.669Z

Reserved: 2026-06-04T20:37:18.653Z

Link: CVE-2026-50540

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-12T22:09:42.119Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-07T21:17:28.827

Modified: 2026-08-12T23:17:21.560

Link: CVE-2026-50540

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-07-20T12:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-50540 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-07T23:30:17Z

Weaknesses