CVE-2026-35204 Helm has a path traversal in plugin metadata version enables arbitrary file write outside Helm plugin directory
A path traversal in Helm plugin metadata allows attackers to write arbitrary files outside the plugin directory, potentially leading to code execution.
- 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-2026-35204?
CVE-2026-35204 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in helm, published on 9 Apr 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
Helm is a package manager for Charts for Kubernetes. From 4.0.0 to 4.1.3, a specially crafted Helm plugin, when installed or updated, will cause Helm to write the contents of the plugin to an arbitrary filesystem location. To prevent this, validate that the plugin.yaml of the Helm plugin does not include a version: field containing POSIX dot-dot path separators ie. "/../". This vulnerability is fixed in 4.1.4.
Weakness: CWE-22
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-35204?
4 open source packages ship an affected version, including helm.sh/helm/v4 and helm. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
helm.sh/helm/v4 Go | From 4.0.0 | 4.1.4 |
helm.sh/helm/v4 Go | From 4.0.0 | 4.1.4 |
helm.sh/helm/v4 Go | From 4.0.0 | 4.1.4 |
helm Bitnami | From 4.0.0 | 4.1.4 |
Linux distribution packages (1)
helm openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 4.1.4-1.1 |
Products include Helm Helm.
How do I fix CVE-2026-35204?
Upgrade helm.sh/helm/v4 to 4.1.4 or later.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-35204 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-35204 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in helm
- CVE-2019-18658 Helm Unsafe Link Following
- CVE-2019-1010275 Helm Improper Certificate Validation
- CVE-2019-25210 Information disclosure in n/a
- CVE-2025-53547 Helm Chart Dependency Updating With Malicious Chart.yaml Content And Symlink Can Lead To Code Execution
- CVE-2020-11013 lookup Function Information Discolosure in Helm
Sources
Also known as BIT-helm-2026-35204, CLEANSTART-2026-SY10925, GHSA-vmx8-mqv2-9gmg, GO-2026-5666, MINI-5vhj-4f3c-j6hw, MINI-87mp-p83r-jvwg and 6 more.