# CVE-2026-53488: containerd CRI — image-config `LABEL` flows to restart-monitor `binary://` logger: host-root command execution from an image pull > Attackers can execute arbitrary host commands by exploiting unvalidated image labels in the containerd CRI plugin, requiring an upgrade to secure the runtime. - **Severity:** Critical 9.4 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Not needed - **Attackable:** Local or same network only - **Victim action needed:** Not needed - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 1 Jul 2026 - **Updated:** 3 Jul 2026 - **Also known as:** AZL-90167, AZL-91584, AZL-91587, BELL-CVE-2026-53488, CLEANSTART-2026-DF92501, CLEANSTART-2026-NA18858, CLEANSTART-2026-RZ55639, CLEANSTART-2026-TR04653, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53488, ECHO-751b-0f3c-db84, GHSA-xhf5-7wjv-pqxp, GO-2026-5758, MINI-222p-jhr8-w22x, MINI-2386-m2vg-xcrv, MINI-2g8g-c69m-8qmw, MINI-2q8j-cf5j-w4rf, MINI-2r77-vh6r-qr5h, MINI-2r8g-3ghm-r9h8, MINI-32g2-cqqw-wf7r, MINI-35c4-mhj8-hv44, MINI-382c-927m-8xgx, MINI-3868-3h9f-xw5j, MINI-39jw-r725-5694, MINI-3f5r-4qpm-7643, MINI-3hwj-vrhq-5xhh, MINI-3mc6-p28g-hmc4, MINI-3pvr-ww86-8gpr, MINI-3rq3-xcx4-rw37, MINI-3vm2-vrj3-7649, MINI-3xrc-7c89-jhrf, MINI-4326-9w29-xrj5, MINI-457q-37v5-5x47, MINI-469c-r6f7-9r44, MINI-478j-f26h-qfg9, MINI-47cg-9h7h-hwcp, MINI-488g-c8f8-wj7p, MINI-49cr-66p8-78gp, MINI-4crh-pg9c-2g47, MINI-4f2p-rhrx-p436, MINI-4ggq-fgx7-ffhc, MINI-4h7r-753h-mhxm, MINI-4h8q-r8cf-9939, MINI-4j59-39x2-m676, MINI-4mh4-mhrh-qrcm, MINI-4mq3-q5ff-mcx7, MINI-527f-4cgj-23mh, MINI-537q-4p32-6r9m, MINI-538x-mg6h-wr6h, MINI-54w4-2q8q-rfmw, MINI-5896-rq3p-9v3r, MINI-58x6-mfcw-p96p, MINI-5j67-m6rw-62g4, MINI-5jv3-637j-9xcq, MINI-5pcw-6frv-c749, MINI-5pj2-jrvw-h8c2, MINI-5vvx-9g97-m6wx, MINI-5wfp-gvf4-cj9q, MINI-5xh5-7x54-v625, MINI-63v9-5x4r-g9f5, MINI-6566-8hcv-mr75, MINI-65hp-56gx-4r39, MINI-69fw-f32f-jpwj, MINI-69v5-48qm-5xx2, MINI-6rfm-g4xq-7j5x, MINI-6v78-v24m-87wh, MINI-766v-x8hf-9v4f, MINI-76hp-q83m-cm2c, MINI-772q-454w-75h9, MINI-77wc-cmg5-882g, MINI-78pr-9c3j-cx72, MINI-79fc-mm74-j2mc, MINI-7h5m-h97f-p672, MINI-7r75-pg5h-v275, MINI-7vh6-2544-9rjx, MINI-7w7c-f6pq-2m43, MINI-7wf4-mwmg-572x, MINI-82xc-c5cg-5pwh, MINI-89gj-hphr-7f6h, MINI-8fpf-hm2j-7xjx, MINI-8g48-gw9q-4wfg, MINI-8gvq-55fx-72x3, MINI-8hmv-2v5c-v2h6, MINI-8j5x-hjvw-7h2r, MINI-935x-7fw8-56v9, MINI-93c2-c4h9-c4q5, MINI-93jm-w24m-vxq9, MINI-94xg-4wgj-h3rp, MINI-969x-cc78-33v6, MINI-97fm-96v6-cg43, MINI-9f7j-2c76-5cww, MINI-9g6w-48jj-43qx, MINI-9h9p-qv2m-5f35, MINI-9jm9-qqwx-8h9q, MINI-9jvc-fhw7-crmp, MINI-9p5h-fg4x-x5cw, MINI-9xg5-pq89-4mvg, MINI-c553-53rg-6g7p, MINI-c7f3-j67g-5p7f, MINI-c946-232m-7x7v, MINI-c9w9-q59g-rvxp, MINI-ccjp-8wx7-4g8f, MINI-ch27-jfw5-ch6r, MINI-ch4r-jqfg-h8mc, MINI-f262-5gcq-m2p9, MINI-f468-p6f2-849v, MINI-f4pp-3xhx-hfhj, MINI-f8gh-g3qr-x63h, MINI-fc4g-qr4g-x8f5, MINI-fh7x-h3j2-f5qr, MINI-fj5c-j668-jc32, MINI-fjj5-5567-c7vx, MINI-fm69-5jq5-pcpr, MINI-fm82-746x-mhgx, MINI-fq79-rjgx-4mwx, MINI-fqmf-ff57-gcpm, MINI-fwj4-522h-gqwm, MINI-g344-492g-77hh, MINI-g3q7-x7gm-qxh8, MINI-gc9p-x4gj-fjpv, MINI-ggwg-v7h6-5c5w, MINI-gm8j-2xqr-xmm2, MINI-gmwx-p3qw-fcg8, MINI-gv9m-j36j-c4q3, MINI-gx5c-86jf-2xhq, MINI-h2p2-fwgf-5mm9, MINI-h6ff-r94q-gx85, MINI-h84w-wr9f-xf5f, MINI-hgxg-47gg-5rrm, MINI-hjrh-f95x-wqcg, MINI-hq23-qqcf-x2ff, MINI-hq35-4mfv-p62v, MINI-hv64-9m6j-wqwx, MINI-hvww-48h2-6chp, MINI-j773-jqf3-r778, MINI-j9xm-hpfc-p8m3, MINI-jfhq-pr73-g6qf, MINI-jj43-7qg4-95jj, MINI-jm7j-mh2q-h848, MINI-jpj3-mfqj-r7cx, MINI-jqjc-xxwj-896r, MINI-jvjq-584r-p7qf, MINI-jx68-gw8g-8h8c, MINI-m23p-8vhf-9r4x, MINI-m4qm-rw43-4p23, MINI-m4vf-76rq-xmc7, MINI-m68r-w7gp-f95w, MINI-mggj-v36j-w2r4, MINI-mgph-h4wf-hmj5, MINI-mj5v-xvjf-9q5g, MINI-mm7w-qv9c-24c7, MINI-mpc8-fw3p-233j, MINI-mq2g-49cw-5hvc, MINI-mv84-94v4-hjj9, MINI-mxgf-c62w-8pv4, MINI-p49q-r3p4-6xcf, MINI-p4pw-7p5m-v59h, MINI-p5f2-fxr8-ffgm, MINI-p5vv-m9c5-fhfj, MINI-p79v-w92f-65vh, MINI-p8f5-prcx-p7p4, MINI-pcpf-c538-w7pv, MINI-pj6h-m54w-j3pv, MINI-pr8q-mvg5-8cqr, MINI-prj8-p7c4-4p4c, MINI-pwg4-5j4x-f66v, MINI-pwp3-j4cr-w7wf, MINI-pxhf-9346-q6v9, MINI-q4r7-2638-94pw, MINI-q7r2-q9w8-cgmf, MINI-q949-mf84-3mcp, MINI-qcf9-77v2-h2q2, MINI-qgpr-8wgf-q965, MINI-qjgp-cf5c-fh9w, MINI-qjp7-44mr-qfm3, MINI-qmrf-g73f-qpf9, MINI-qq37-mq3g-q2c7, MINI-r47p-457f-cxjr, MINI-r6fq-fhpg-7vg6, MINI-r9v7-cq5q-87gw, MINI-rcrh-f26r-wvqx, MINI-rfq2-m5rp-884p, MINI-rgvf-cgg5-4pfc, MINI-rh2w-7cpx-4245, MINI-rj2m-837p-x6fv, MINI-rp8r-6qm7-hm5r, MINI-rv7m-7hp8-839q, MINI-rvx9-59hc-c84h, MINI-rw49-hvr9-wjf5, MINI-rw5g-g464-757c, MINI-rw6f-9g6q-59fj, MINI-v6hj-8wjq-jpx6, MINI-v9mq-3qmj-p2q8, MINI-vf32-h2cc-m33x, MINI-vjw5-6mfq-2x5g, MINI-vpm7-263x-fw7x, MINI-vq69-5hh7-w767, MINI-vrjf-3q44-wpm4, MINI-vwp2-23jm-6qp4, MINI-w37w-wq76-v6fj, MINI-w734-qmm6-j432, MINI-w7cq-79v9-7j6j, MINI-w7gp-vq3f-5pvp, MINI-w7w9-9mw2-fjgp, MINI-w94c-r2hp-55hj, MINI-wcmq-774q-m8wj, MINI-wcwq-fjcg-7j9x, MINI-wf9j-7282-m872, MINI-wfpc-x8c4-q3j2, MINI-wxp2-r87j-6fpq, MINI-x2fm-88fg-m349, MINI-x2x6-4xvf-w8w4, MINI-x427-cwhq-7rg9, MINI-x6qm-78pp-fjqp, MINI-x7fm-gv7p-88xx, MINI-x7v4-3wc3-5h49, MINI-x9mh-c5vq-vh77, MINI-x9mp-8gvh-j3v4, MINI-xf7p-jch7-74fw, MINI-xfxr-rc8g-4cwv, MINI-xj34-gr3w-vpgj, MINI-xj6c-2qhh-jw6m, MINI-xmmv-c943-vqgf, MINI-xqrg-r443-74q7, MINI-xvqj-jw6g-j343, MINI-xw92-wwvp-7qp6, ROOT-APP-GOBINARY-CVE-2026-53488, SUSE-SU-2026:4671-1, SUSE-SU-2026:4787-1 ## What is CVE-2026-53488? CVE-2026-53488 is a critical command injection vulnerability in containerd, published on 1 Jul 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. ### Official description containerd is an open-source container runtime. In versions prior to 1.7.33, 2.3.2, 2.2.5, 2.1.9, and 2.0.10 the CRI plugin propagates labels from an image config (LABEL instruction in Dockerfile) to a container without validation. This may result in executing an arbitrary command on the host, via a plugin that consumes container labels for some operations. This issue has been fixed in versions 1.7.33, 2.3.2, 2.2.5, 2.1.9, and 2.0.10. Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53488? 12 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 2.0.0 | 2.0.10, 2.1.9, 2.2.5, 2.3.2 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.0.0 | 2.0.10 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.0.0 | 2.0.10 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.1.0 | 2.1.9 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.1.0 | 2.1.9 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.2.0 | 2.2.5 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.2.0 | 2.2.5 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.3.0 | 2.3.2 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd/v2` | Go | From 2.3.0 | 2.3.2 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd` | Go | From 1.7.0 | 1.7.33 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd` | Go | From 1.7.0 | 1.7.33 | | `github.com/containerd/containerd` | Go | From 1.7.0 | 1.7.33 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Containers 15 SP7 | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | All versions | 1.7.29-16.116.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | All versions | 1.7.29-16.116.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | | `containerd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | All versions | 1.7.29-150000.149.1 | Products: Linuxfoundation Containerd. ## How do I fix CVE-2026-53488? Upgrade github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 to a fixed version for your release line: 2.0.10, 2.1.9, 2.2.5 or 2.3.2. ## Is CVE-2026-53488 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53488 in the wild and no public exploit code. ## Other vulnerabilities in containerd - [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-2026-46680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-46680/): containerd user ID handling bypass allows runAsNonRoot evasion (high 7.3) - [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-2026-53488 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2026-53488 is a critical command injection vulnerability in containerd, published on 1 Jul 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53488 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.0.0; fixed in 2.0.10, 2.1.9, 2.2.5, 2.3.2 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.0.0; fixed in 2.0.10 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.0.0; fixed in 2.0.10 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.1.0; fixed in 2.1.9 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.1.0; fixed in 2.1.9 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.2.0; fixed in 2.2.5 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.2.0; fixed in 2.2.5 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.3.0; fixed in 2.3.2 - github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 (Go): affected from 2.3.0; fixed in 2.3.2 - github.com/containerd/containerd (Go): affected from 1.7.0; fixed in 1.7.33 - github.com/containerd/containerd (Go): affected from 1.7.0; fixed in 1.7.33 - github.com/containerd/containerd (Go): affected from 1.7.0; fixed in 1.7.33 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-2026-53488/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53488/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53488 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53488 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-53488 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53488/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.