# CVE-2020-14316: Privilege Escalation in kubevirt

> Attackers can exploit KubeVirt VMIs to access the host filesystem, read or modify files, and escalate privileges to the host process level.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 29 Jul 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-828r-r2c8-rfw3, GO-2024-2756

## What is CVE-2020-14316?

CVE-2020-14316 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in kubevirt, published on 29 Jul 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw was found in kubevirt 0.29 and earlier. Virtual Machine Instances (VMIs) can be used to gain access to the host's filesystem. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to assume the privileges of the VM process on the host system. In worst-case scenarios an attacker can read and modify any file on the system where the VMI is running. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-14316?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including kubevirt.io/kubevirt. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `kubevirt.io/kubevirt` | Go | All versions | 0.30.0 |
| `kubevirt.io/kubevirt` | Go | All versions | 0.30.0 |
| `kubevirt.io/kubevirt` | Go | All versions | 0.30.0 |

Products: Kubevirt Kubevirt, Redhat Openshift Virtualization.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-14316?

Upgrade kubevirt.io/kubevirt to 0.30.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-14316 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-14316 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in kubevirt

- [CVE-2022-1798](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-1798/): Path Traversal vulnerability in Kubevirt (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2025-64324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-64324/): KubeVirt Vulnerable to Arbitrary Host File Read and Write (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2023-26484](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-26484/): On a compromised KubeVirt node, the virt-handler service account can be used to modify all node specs (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2026-13201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-13201/): Path traversal in Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.12 (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2025-64436](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-64436/): KubeVirt Excessive Role Permissions Could Enable Unauthorized VMI Migrations Between Nodes (medium 6.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-14316 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-14316 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in kubevirt, published on 29 Jul 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-14316 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- kubevirt.io/kubevirt (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 0.30.0
- kubevirt.io/kubevirt (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 0.30.0
- kubevirt.io/kubevirt (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 0.30.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14316/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14316/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14316
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-14316
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-14316

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14316/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.