CVE-2026-13201

A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package used by virt-handler. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path leaf, but downstream operations resolve the path via /proc/self/fd/N using link-following syscalls. When the leaf is a symlink, the kernel dereferences it, defeating the intended no-follow protection. An attacker with access to a virt-launcher pod can exploit this to redirect virt-handler's IPC socket connections, including the notify socket used for VM domain lifecycle events. By hijacking this socket, the attacker can inject arbitrary domain events into virt-handler, causing it to take incorrect lifecycle actions, corrupt VM state in the Kubernetes API, or crash — resulting in sustained denial of VM management services for all virtual machines on the affected node. Additionally, the same symlink following flaw allows virt-handler to apply file ownership or permission changes to unintended host paths.
References
Link Resource
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-13201 Mitigation Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2492203 Issue Tracking Vendor Advisory
Configurations

Configuration 1 (hide)

OR cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:-:*:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_virtualization:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

History

06 Jul 2026, 17:51

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPE cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_virtualization:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:-:*:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*
References () https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-13201 - () https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-13201 - Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
References () https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2492203 - () https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2492203 - Issue Tracking, Vendor Advisory
First Time Redhat openshift Virtualization
Kubevirt
Redhat
Kubevirt kubevirt

26 Jun 2026, 00:16

Type Values Removed Values Added
Summary (en) A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path leaf, but downstream helpers operate via /proc/self/fd/N using link-following syscalls. When the leaf is a symlink, the kernel dereferences it, defeating the intended no-follow protection. An attacker with access to a virt-launcher pod can exploit this to cause virt-handler to apply file ownership or permission changes to an unintended host path. (en) A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package used by virt-handler. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path leaf, but downstream operations resolve the path via /proc/self/fd/N using link-following syscalls. When the leaf is a symlink, the kernel dereferences it, defeating the intended no-follow protection. An attacker with access to a virt-launcher pod can exploit this to redirect virt-handler's IPC socket connections, including the notify socket used for VM domain lifecycle events. By hijacking this socket, the attacker can inject arbitrary domain events into virt-handler, causing it to take incorrect lifecycle actions, corrupt VM state in the Kubernetes API, or crash — resulting in sustained denial of VM management services for all virtual machines on the affected node. Additionally, the same symlink following flaw allows virt-handler to apply file ownership or permission changes to unintended host paths.
CVSS v2 : unknown
v3 : 5.2
v2 : unknown
v3 : 7.3

24 Jun 2026, 21:16

Type Values Removed Values Added
New CVE

Information

Published : 2026-06-24 21:16

Updated : 2026-07-06 17:51


NVD link : CVE-2026-13201

Mitre link : CVE-2026-13201

CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-13201


JSON object : View

Products Affected

kubevirt

  • kubevirt

redhat

  • openshift_virtualization
CWE
CWE-61

UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following