Medium severity · published Sep 28, 2026
CVE-2026-19444
Kubernetes kubectl cp path traversal on Windows allows arbitrary file writes
6.5
CVSS
0.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
A path traversal vulnerability was discovered in the Kubernetes kubectl client's kubectl cp command on Windows. When copying files from a container, kubectl runs tar inside the container to build a tar archive, transfers it over the network, and unpacks it on the local machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it can execute arbitrary code and emit unexpected output, allowing an attacker who controls container contents to write files to arbitrary paths on the user's local machine when kubectl cp is invoked, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. This issue only affects kubectl clients running on Windows.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N
Attack vector
Adjacent
Complexity
Low
Privileges
High
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
High
Availability
None
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 14% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
KU
Kubernetes · Kubernetes
v1.36.0 through v1.36.4; v1.35.0 through v1.35.8; v1.34.0 through v1.34.11 · source: vendor
Affected product
KU
Kubernetes
Kubernetes
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