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TI-2019-08416 Aliases CVE-2019-11246GHSA-8wj5-gvvw-f5fh

kubectl cp allows symlink directory traversal

Priority LOW 35CWE-61Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · High · None
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 3 fixed, 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes runs tar inside the container to create a tar archive, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user’s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user’s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. Kubernetes affected versions include versions prior to 1.12.9, versions prior to 1.13.6, versions prior to 1.14.2, and versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.03633 89th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Kubernetes (Kubernetes): 1.12.9, 1.13.6, 1.14.2Red Hat: 3 advisoriesRed Hat: 3 fixed, 1 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
KubernetesKubernetesbefore 1.12.9; before 1.13.6; before 1.14.2; 1.1; 1.2; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; 1.10; 1.111.12.9, 1.13.6, 1.14.2Patch availableCNA
  • Kubernetes VendorKubernetes Affected before 1.12.9; before 1.13.6; before 1.14.2; 1.1; 1.2; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; 1.10; 1.11 Fixed in 1.12.9, 1.13.6, 1.14.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*1.0.0 – 1.12.10; 1.13.0 to before 1.13.9; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.5; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.2VulnerableKubernetes
cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes:1.12.11:beta0:*:*:*:*:*:*1.12.11 beta0VulnerableKubernetes
  • cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.0 – 1.12.10; 1.13.0 to before 1.13.9; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.5; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.2 Vulnerable ·Kubernetes
  • cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes:1.12.11:beta0:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.12.11 beta0 Vulnerable ·Kubernetes

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Kubernetes (Kubernetes) Fixed in 1.12.9, 1.13.6, 1.14.2

Red Hat 3 advisories

  • RHSA-2019:1852 Released 2019-07-24 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    OpenShift Container Platform 3.9 atomic-openshift security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.9 atomic-openshift-3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable-3.9.89-1.git.0.9454f2a.el7 +11
  • RHSA-2019:1633 Released 2019-06-27 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11 atomic-openshift security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11 atomic-openshift-3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable-3.11.117-1.git.0.14e54a3.el7 +10
  • RHSA-2019:1632 Released 2019-06-27 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.10 atomic-openshift security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.10 atomic-openshift-3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable-3.10.149-1.git.0.05de590.el7 +10

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Storage 3AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.10Fixed RHSA-2019:1632
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11Fixed RHSA-2019:1633
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.9Fixed RHSA-2019:1852
Not affected: 3 products
  • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.6
  • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.7
  • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2019-11246
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8wj5-gvvw-f5fh

References

Patch 1

Advisory 1

Other 1

  • TI-2018-16130 Improper privilege management in Kubernetes CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2019-08418 Kubernetes kubelet exposes /debug/pprof info on healthz port CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
  • TI-2023-05086 Kubernetes - Windows nodes - Insufficient input sanitization in in-tree storage plugin leads to privilege escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2023-03433 Kubernetes - Windows nodes - Insufficient input sanitization leads to privilege escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2023-02285 Bypass of seccomp profile enforcement CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
  • TI-2017-14755 Link following in Kubernetes CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.6
See all 55 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences