CVE-2026-24843 melange QEMU runner could write files outside workspace directory
An attacker influencing a QEMU guest VM can write files outside the workspace directory on the host via path traversal in melange.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-24843?
CVE-2026-24843 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in chainguard-dev melange, published on 4 Feb 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
melange allows users to build apk packages using declarative pipelines. In version 0.11.3 to before 0.40.3, an attacker who can influence the tar stream from a QEMU guest VM could write files outside the intended workspace directory on the host. The retrieveWorkspace function extracts tar entries without validating that paths stay within the workspace, allowing path traversal via ../ sequences. This issue has been patched in version 0.40.3.
Weakness: CWE-22
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-24843?
3 open source packages ship an affected version, including chainguard.dev/melange. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
chainguard.dev/melange Go | From 0.11.3 | 0.40.3 |
chainguard.dev/melange Go | From 0.11.3 | 0.40.3 |
chainguard.dev/melange Go | From 0.11.3 | 0.40.3 |
Products include Chainguard Melange.
How do I fix CVE-2026-24843?
Upgrade chainguard.dev/melange to 0.40.3 or later.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-24843 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-24843 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in chainguard-dev melange
- CVE-2026-24844 melange pipeline working-directory could allow command injection
- CVE-2026-25143 melange affected by potential host command execution via license-check YAML mode patch pipeline
- CVE-2026-29050 melange has Path Traversal When Resolving External Pipelines via Unvalidated pipeline[].uses
- CVE-2026-25145 melange has a path traversal in license-path which allows reading files outside workspace
- CVE-2026-29051 melange has Path Traversal via .PKGINFO in --persist-lint-results
Sources
Also known as GHSA-qxx2-7h4c-83f4, GO-2026-4407.