kubectl cp allows symlink directory traversal
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
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 1.13.9, versions prior to 1.14.5, versions prior to 1.15.2, and versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes | Kubernetes | before 1.13.9; before 1.14.5; before 1.15.2; 1.1; 1.2; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; 1.10; 1.11; 1.12 | 1.13.9, 1.14.5, 1.15.2 | Patch available | CNA |
- Kubernetes VendorKubernetes Affected before 1.13.9; before 1.14.5; before 1.15.2; 1.1; 1.2; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; 1.10; 1.11; 1.12 Fixed in 1.13.9, 1.14.5, 1.15.2 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 1.15.2 | Vulnerable | Kubernetes |
| cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes:1.12.11:beta0:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.12.11 beta0 | Vulnerable | Kubernetes |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.9 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.10 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.11 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.1 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- 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
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.9 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.10 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.11 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.1 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Kubernetes (Kubernetes) Fixed in 1.13.9, 1.14.5, 1.15.2
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2019:3811 Released 2019-11-07 · Red Hat rating ImportantOpenShift Container Platform 3.9 atomic-openshift security update
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.9 atomic-openshift-3.9.102-1.git.0.6411f52.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-3.9.102-1.git.0.6411f52.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable-3.9.102-1.git.0.6411f52.el7 +11
- RHSA-2019:3239 Released 2019-10-29 · Red Hat rating ImportantOpenShift Container Platform 3.10 atomic-openshift security update
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.10 atomic-openshift-3.10.181-1.git.0.3ab4b3d.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-3.10.181-1.git.0.3ab4b3d.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable-3.10.181-1.git.0.3ab4b3d.el7 +10
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Advisory ·
Kubernetes — RHBA-2019:2816
2 records Highest priority Priority LOW 2 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2019-08417 Kubernetes kube-apiserver allows access to custom resources via wrong scopePriority LOW 39
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.10 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3239 |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11 | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.9 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3811 |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.1 | Fixed | — |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11
- Red Hat Storage 3
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2019-11249
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-v8c4-hw4j-x4pr
References
More Kubernetes vulnerabilities
- 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
Sources
- CVE-2019-11249 · CVE Program
- CVE-2019-11249 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-v8c4-hw4j-x4pr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2019-11249 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences