Path traversal in OpenStack Ironic
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Low · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat.
Summary
OpenStack Ironic before 29.0.1 can write unintended files to a target node disk during image handling (if a deployment was performed via the API). A malicious project assigned as a node owner can provide a path to any local file (readable by ironic-conductor), which may then be written to the target node disk. This is difficult to exploit in practice, because a node deployed in this manner should never reach the ACTIVE state, but it still represents a danger in environments running with non-default, insecure configurations such as with automated cleaning disabled. The fixed versions are 24.1.3, 26.1.1, and 29.0.1.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenStack | Ironic | 24 to before 24.1.3; 25 to before 26.1.1; 27 to before 29.0.1 | 24.1.3, 26.1.1, 29.0.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | ironic (PyPI) | before 24.1.3 | 24.1.3 | Patch available | GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q |
| — | ironic (PyPI) | 25.0.0 to before 26.1.1 | 26.1.1 | Patch available | GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q |
| — | ironic (PyPI) | 27.0.0 to before 29.0.1 | 29.0.1 | Patch available | GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q |
- Ironic VendorOpenStack Affected 24 to before 24.1.3; 25 to before 26.1.1; 27 to before 29.0.1 Fixed in 24.1.3, 26.1.1, 29.0.1 Patch available CNA
- ironic (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 24.1.3 Fixed in 24.1.3 Patch available GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q
- ironic (PyPI) Vendor— Affected 25.0.0 to before 26.1.1 Fixed in 26.1.1 Patch available GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q
- ironic (PyPI) Vendor— Affected 27.0.0 to before 29.0.1 Fixed in 29.0.1 Patch available GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Ironic (OpenStack) Fixed in 24.1.3, 26.1.1, 29.0.1
- Fix · GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q ironic (PyPI) Fixed in 24.1.3 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q ironic (PyPI) Fixed in 26.1.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q ironic (PyPI) Fixed in 29.0.1 Advisory →
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 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.2 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 17.1 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 18.0 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-44021
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q
References
Other 6
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ironic/+bug/2107847
- https://security.openstack.org/ossa/OSSA-2025-001.html
- https://github.com/openstack/ironic/commit/10590b36f541130f6a5d7a49da0f095ff8390cce
- https://github.com/openstack/ironic
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ironic/PYSEC-2025-38.yaml
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/08/1
More OpenStack vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-78562 Incorrect authorization in OpenStack Manila share operations CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2026-63467 Code injection in OpenStack Octavia CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.4
- TI-2017-13226 The tcpmss_mangle_packet function in net/netfilter/xt_TCPMSS.c in the Linux kernel before… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-69629 OpenStack Mistral flaw lets users change other projects' resources CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.2
- TI-2026-69623 Command injection in OpenStack Mistral std.ssh_proxied action CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2022-17779 Improper privilege management in OpenStack CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2025-44021 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-44021 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-q3m2-crgq-5p3q · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-44021 · 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