CVE-2026-41888 Distribution: Tag deletion bypasses `storage.delete.enabled` configuration
Attackers can delete container image tags even when deletion is disabled in configuration, compromising registry integrity.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-41888?
CVE-2026-41888 is a medium-severity vulnerability in distribution, published on 14 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Distribution is a toolkit to pack, ship, store, and deliver container content. Prior to 3.1.1, tag deletion via the DELETE /v2/<name>/manifests/<tag> endpoint bypasses the storage.delete.enabled: false configuration, allowing any API client to remove tags from repositories even when the operator has explicitly disabled deletion. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.1.1.
Weakness: CWE-863
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-41888?
7 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/distribution/distribution, distribution and github.com/distribution/distribution/v3. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
github.com/distribution/distribution Go | All versions | None |
github.com/distribution/distribution Go | All versions to 2.8.3 | None |
github.com/distribution/distribution Go | All versions to 2.8.3 | None |
distribution Bitnami | All versions | 3.1.1 |
github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 Go | All versions | 3.1.1 |
github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 Go | All versions | 3.1.1 |
1 more packages
github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 Go | All versions | 3.1.1 |
Linux distribution packages (2)
distribution openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 3.1.1-1.1 |
helm openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 4.2.0-1.1 |
Products include Distribution Distribution.
How do I fix CVE-2026-41888?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Is CVE-2026-41888 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-41888 exists.
Other vulnerabilities in distribution
Sources
Also known as BIT-distribution-2026-41888, CLEANSTART-2026-CX76698, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-41888, GHSA-6pjf-3r9x-m592, GO-2026-5185, MINI-3q8x-6cjp-2p73 and 24 more.