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.
History

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate


Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description 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.
Title Kubevirt: virt-handler-rhel9: kubevirt: safepath openatnofollow symlink following via /proc/self/fd allows host file metadata modification
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat container Native Virtualization
Weaknesses CWE-61
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat container Native Virtualization
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: redhat

Published:

Updated: 2026-06-24T20:39:00.173Z

Reserved: 2026-06-24T13:58:29.925Z

Link: CVE-2026-13201

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-06-24T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-13201 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-06-25T00:30:03Z