CVE-2026-19444 Kubernetes kubectl cp path traversal on Windows allows arbitrary file writes
A malicious container can write arbitrary files to the local Windows machine via kubectl cp, potentially leading to code execution or data modification.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-19444?
CVE-2026-19444 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Kubernetes, published on 28 Sep 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official 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.
Weakness: CWE-22
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-19444?
How do I fix CVE-2026-19444?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-19444 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-19444 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-105173, GHSA-pw89-p422-jr5j, MINI-f886-px58-5mfq, MINI-h2q7-gvr4-mm23, MINI-p48g-f78v-pr7f, MINI-r533-8cp4-59cf and 6 more.