Vulnerability Description
Kata Containers is an open source project focusing on a standard implementation of lightweight Virtual Machines (VMs) that perform like containers. Versions prior to 3.31.0 ship with a default configuration that allows pod creators to inject arbitrary command-line arguments into the virtiofsd process through the `io.katacontainers.config.hypervisor.virtio_fs_extra_args` pod annotation. By injecting `-o source=/` along with `--no-announce-submounts` and `--sandbox=none`, an attacker can override the virtiofsd shared directory to serve the entire host root filesystem into the guest VM. Combined with the `kernel_params` annotation (also enabled by default) to activate the agent debug console, the attacker can mount the host filesystem from inside the VM and read or write any file on the host, including /etc/shadow. Version 3.31.0 patches the issue.
CVSS Score
CRITICAL
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Katacontainers | Kata Containers | < 3.31.0 |
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/commit/ffa59ce3aa7877d067c9a3Patch
- https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/security/advisories/GHSA-rr59ExploitVendor Advisory
- https://github.com/kata-containers/kata-containers/security/advisories/GHSA-rr59ExploitVendor Advisory
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-44210?
CVE-2026-44210 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.9 (CRITICAL). Kata Containers is an open source project focusing on a standard implementation of lightweight Virtual Machines (VMs) that perform like containers. Versions prior to 3.31.0 ship with a default configu...
How severe is CVE-2026-44210?
CVE-2026-44210 has been rated CRITICAL with a CVSS base score of 9.9/10. This is considered a critical vulnerability requiring immediate attention.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-44210?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Katacontainers Kata Containers.