# CVE-2026-46680: containerd user ID handling bypass allows runAsNonRoot evasion > Attackers can bypass Kubernetes runAsNonRoot restrictions by crafting images with specific numeric user IDs, causing containers to run as root. - **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`) - **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:** Yes - **Published:** 1 Jul 2026 - **Updated:** 3 Jul 2026 - **Also known as:** AZL-91668, BELL-CVE-2026-46680, CLEANSTART-2026-GA19307, CLEANSTART-2026-XP05903, CLEANSTART-2026-ZM97494, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46680, ECHO-9195-b3b5-18fa, GHSA-fqw6-gf59-qr4w, GO-2026-5378, MINI-28wp-p4cx-jjcj, MINI-2944-8x2m-h363, MINI-2hfx-w3xg-6x93, MINI-2hpf-8r9f-fphf, MINI-2hrc-fwmv-jpg3, MINI-2mf8-h5vg-cfcr, MINI-2xgc-v67v-2ghh, MINI-2xrp-xpfx-4grj, MINI-2xw5-4mgq-vcjg, MINI-3823-mg4w-83hx, MINI-3ghh-4fpf-w6jx, MINI-3r22-xw8q-w3vv, MINI-4385-v8rv-vrv3, MINI-44q9-crv7-xvcw, MINI-49fc-2q5j-cqg9, MINI-4c3w-33r6-5c42, MINI-4m9f-xjc5-2gp8, MINI-4mjh-w5mf-5wf2, MINI-4qf8-f98h-xqh9, MINI-54jg-pm2c-7xfv, MINI-57pf-28cf-f4pq, MINI-597q-276j-rrg6, MINI-59hv-4865-qmm3, MINI-5j87-qwp3-ww8h, MINI-5qxx-2m9v-328h, MINI-5r49-4mxr-gjxr, MINI-5v7g-jr5f-742h, MINI-5xgm-q6p5-v3x7, MINI-6582-p8q9-8fvf, MINI-6h3v-6vc3-4286, MINI-6m8p-9c84-m4wr, MINI-6qqr-rpwr-f5wr, MINI-6qxx-hchw-c4ph, MINI-6wc6-3r4g-g8v6, MINI-6xhw-wv5r-v9vw, MINI-74g4-5574-3g8h, MINI-796g-mxm2-fgvh, MINI-7f4j-47vg-hc67, MINI-7jgg-hgh8-x4c7, MINI-7p6j-75h5-8px4, MINI-7w5f-v66x-x44f, MINI-82cx-p9xr-33mg, MINI-8752-m5q8-92r7, MINI-894m-xvq8-8cjr, MINI-89vh-3vxv-m548, MINI-8cv2-c2c5-r4gp, MINI-8mrh-qf98-5p77, MINI-8xg6-xww4-26v8, MINI-9224-pj4m-894j, MINI-92qq-498q-3mj3, MINI-935c-v9hr-ppp4, MINI-98fm-vqh2-wp5m, MINI-9pjg-p2ww-x9j4, MINI-9q8v-46pj-67m5, MINI-c2rg-36vr-53xj, MINI-c638-w6rw-pw62, MINI-c854-jv96-3jfq, MINI-cg9r-m3jc-2rwg, MINI-chfj-w2p4-29g5, MINI-cj8j-vh86-fg4w, MINI-crpp-frjj-9452, MINI-cwqq-8qc5-rxp9, MINI-cxf5-wjfc-j5m6, MINI-cxrc-q6mx-mhrh, MINI-f3r2-pw57-p2hx, MINI-f4rx-f4xp-pqmx, MINI-f6w4-f968-h826, MINI-f923-h848-ffpx, MINI-f992-mvm6-66fm, MINI-fh9w-9ffw-4h8m, MINI-fv5g-3fjc-qh26, MINI-fwgf-2hrp-f6q4, MINI-g35w-pr87-fq2x, MINI-g68m-8rcm-vwx7, MINI-g839-rjm6-mhcg, MINI-gcj6-fxxg-x38w, MINI-ggj7-j32c-9m87, MINI-ghcx-mgh7-mjp8, MINI-gvhj-25jp-53rw, MINI-gwfj-wrjh-3g6x, MINI-gxp3-v3h4-hc3g, MINI-h2c3-jm9m-9m35, MINI-h52j-v5vx-9q4h, MINI-h5jh-8wg8-3qfh, MINI-h652-5748-vc2x, MINI-h788-95xp-jx74, MINI-h7qg-f6rc-88h9, MINI-h92j-jpv9-p5j4, MINI-hcgh-gf5v-8c7p, MINI-hf44-x8gg-qxw5, MINI-hhhj-jg4h-5487, MINI-jc3h-qh6f-8p2f, MINI-jj4j-mqq7-7r4j, MINI-jjwx-6hmh-g7hw, MINI-jmm9-gj9g-8qc2, MINI-jq3c-vc6p-5c36, MINI-jrcw-hg82-xg9x, MINI-m45q-9w8r-5w9v, MINI-m4jx-qwfh-746w, MINI-m67p-4vr9-3rf9, MINI-mcq8-vr5x-m4xq, MINI-mf3f-wx9j-r8h8, MINI-mj9r-qmjc-88gc, MINI-mm7r-xcj7-qpww, MINI-mmfg-38m3-q7j2, MINI-mxqg-wqcf-8wj5, MINI-p3qr-j594-h2g3, MINI-p5m9-qp9m-qpqc, MINI-p6f9-76ff-f2w8, MINI-p7x3-2rq3-mc2f, MINI-pfmp-jr87-www5, MINI-pqcx-7v5c-m5w3, MINI-pvr7-jm72-26pp, MINI-pwq8-hv2x-jxg3, MINI-pxpq-w535-9pc5, MINI-q3hp-cmjc-jjfc, MINI-q6w6-p743-2f62, MINI-qg2j-6wcq-jc56, MINI-qgmv-xgw2-c36g, MINI-qh34-c8q3-h79c, MINI-qpgp-pp8r-hvc2, MINI-qpvh-h823-grg5, MINI-qrpc-q6vj-22qx, MINI-qwjf-f3gv-f36g, MINI-r3cg-792w-59f9, MINI-r3m9-fg87-c25q, MINI-r4rc-227j-5mfh, MINI-rhx9-c68x-cjgc, MINI-rj49-58pp-962x, MINI-rpv3-5cjg-v6g8, MINI-rr2q-9jph-q3m6, MINI-rww4-5fhr-v46r, MINI-v2vq-xgmf-59g4, MINI-v35w-7j9m-vrmf, MINI-v633-8f7g-3r3c, MINI-v676-3pmc-hwm8, MINI-v6cx-gc88-7fv9, MINI-v6q6-w74r-jhqf, MINI-v9wr-rg84-2r3p, MINI-vfxh-wh73-wwqv, MINI-vg2w-8m3c-cw89, MINI-vwr8-mpc5-m6rm, MINI-w33h-72q7-mjw4, MINI-w6j9-v53m-gh85, MINI-w8p4-g6rj-5354, MINI-wf84-99pv-j243, MINI-whq5-w5cm-28fv, MINI-wp96-vmpf-xh59, MINI-wp9v-m2xc-jhvf, MINI-wphw-r63p-4v6f, MINI-wqc9-8frf-9gmr, MINI-ww5c-94x6-jvmx, MINI-x4h7-2f6h-7cf4, MINI-x793-jp39-3qpq, MINI-x7rr-rc4m-xvfr, MINI-xh98-c8c9-h5xm, MINI-xjrc-6v83-74c3, MINI-xp6g-68fq-x7mv, MINI-xrxw-wrw6-qxx6, MINI-xx72-g5fj-mwq9, MINI-xxxj-h4qg-w9jj, OESA-2026-3719, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-46680, openSUSE-SU-2026:11048-1 ## What is CVE-2026-46680? CVE-2026-46680 is a high-severity vulnerability in containerd, published on 1 Jul 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 containerd is an open-source container runtime. In versions prior to 1.7.32, 2.0.9, 2.2.4 and 2.3.1, containers launched with a numeric User directive that cannot be parsed as a 32-bit integer are incorrectly treated as a username, leading to runAsNonRoot evasion. If a crafted image provides an /etc/passwd file mapping this large numeric string to root, the container ultimately runs as root (UID 0). This allows the Kubernetes runAsNonRoot restriction to be bypassed, causing unexpected behavior for environments that require containers to run as a non-root user. This issue has been fixed in versions 1.7.32, 2.0.9, 2.2.4 and 2.3.1. Weakness: CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-46680? 10 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 and github.com/containerd/containerd. It affects 1 product. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.0.4 | 2.0.9, 2.2.4, 2.3.1 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.0.4 | 2.0.9 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.0.4 | 2.0.9 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.1.0-beta.0 | 2.2.4 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.1.0-beta.0 | 2.2.4 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.3.0-beta.0 | 2.3.1 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.3.0-beta.0 | 2.3.1 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd` | Go | From 1.7.27 | 1.7.32 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd` | Go | From 1.7.27 | 1.7.32 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd` | Go | From 1.7.27 | 1.7.32 | | `trivy` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 0.71.1-2.1 | Products: Linuxfoundation Containerd. ## How do I fix CVE-2026-46680? Upgrade github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 to a fixed version for your release line: 2.0.9, 2.2.4 or 2.3.1. ## Is CVE-2026-46680 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46680 in the wild and no public exploit code. Public exploit code: - CVE-2026-46680 exploit (github_poc): https://github.com/r0binak/CVE-2026-46680 ## Other vulnerabilities in containerd - [CVE-2026-53488](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53488/): containerd CRI — image-config `LABEL` flows to restart-monitor `binary://` logger: host-root command execution from an image pull (critical 9.4) - [CVE-2026-53492](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53492/): containerd CRI checkpoint restore CDI annotation smuggling (high 8.4) - [CVE-2026-53489](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53489/): containerd: Arbitrary host CRI log file read via symlink following in CRI checkpoint restore (high 8.2) - [CVE-2025-47290](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-47290/): Containerd vulnerable to host filesystem access during image unpack (high 7.6) - [CVE-2024-25621](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-25621/): containerd affected by a local privilege escalation via wide permissions on CRI directory (high 7.3) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2026-46680 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2026-46680 is a high-severity vulnerability in containerd, published on 1 Jul 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. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46680 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.0.4; fixed in 2.0.9, 2.2.4, 2.3.1 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.0.4; fixed in 2.0.9 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.0.4; fixed in 2.0.9 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.1.0-beta.0; fixed in 2.2.4 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.1.0-beta.0; fixed in 2.2.4 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.3.0-beta.0; fixed in 2.3.1 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.3.0-beta.0; fixed in 2.3.1 - github.com/containerd/containerd (Go): affected from 1.7.27; fixed in 1.7.32 - github.com/containerd/containerd (Go): affected from 1.7.27; fixed in 1.7.32 - github.com/containerd/containerd (Go): affected from 1.7.27; fixed in 1.7.32 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-2026-46680/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-46680/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46680 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-46680 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-46680 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-46680/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.