KubeVirt Arbitrary Container File Read
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-22 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
KubeVirt is a virtual machine management add-on for Kubernetes. Prior to 1.5.3 and 1.6.1, a vulnerability was discovered that allows a VM to read arbitrary files from the virt-launcher pod's file system. This issue stems from improper symlink handling when mounting PVC disks into a VM. Specifically, if a malicious user has full or partial control over the contents of a PVC, they can create a symbolic link that points to a file within the virt-launcher pod's file system. Since libvirt can treat regular files as block devices, any file on the pod's file system that is symlinked in this way can be mounted into the VM and subsequently read. Although a security mechanism exists where VMs are executed as an unprivileged user with UID 107 inside the virt-launcher container, limiting the scope of accessible resources, this restriction is bypassed due to a second vulnerability. The latter causes the ownership of any file intended for mounting to be changed to the unprivileged user with UID 107 prior to mounting. As a result, an attacker can gain access to and read arbitrary files located within the virt-launcher pod's file system or on a mounted PVC from within the guest VM. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.5.3 and 1.6.1.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kubevirt | kubevirt | before 1.5.3; 1.6.0-alpha.0 to before 1.6.1 | 1.5.3, 1.6.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | kubevirt.io/kubevirt (Go) | before 1.5.3 | 1.5.3 | Patch available | GHSA-qw6q-3pgr-5cwq |
| — | kubevirt.io/kubevirt (Go) | 1.6.0-alpha.0 to before 1.6.1 | 1.6.1 | Patch available | GHSA-qw6q-3pgr-5cwq |
- kubevirt Vendorkubevirt Affected before 1.5.3; 1.6.0-alpha.0 to before 1.6.1 Fixed in 1.5.3, 1.6.1 Patch available CNA
- kubevirt.io/kubevirt (Go) Vendor— Affected before 1.5.3 Fixed in 1.5.3 Patch available GHSA-qw6q-3pgr-5cwq
- kubevirt.io/kubevirt (Go) Vendor— Affected 1.6.0-alpha.0 to before 1.6.1 Fixed in 1.6.1 Patch available GHSA-qw6q-3pgr-5cwq
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:*:*:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* | before 1.5.3 | Vulnerable | kubevirt |
| cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:-:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* | 1.6.0 | Vulnerable | kubevirt |
| cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:alpha0:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* | 1.6.0 alpha0 | Vulnerable | kubevirt |
| cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:beta0:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* | 1.6.0 beta0 | Vulnerable | kubevirt |
| cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:rc0:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* | 1.6.0 rc0 | Vulnerable | kubevirt |
| cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:rc1:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* | 1.6.0 rc1 | Vulnerable | kubevirt |
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:*:*:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* Versions before 1.5.3 Vulnerable ·kubevirt
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:-:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* Versions 1.6.0 Vulnerable ·kubevirt
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:alpha0:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* Versions 1.6.0 alpha0 Vulnerable ·kubevirt
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:beta0:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* Versions 1.6.0 beta0 Vulnerable ·kubevirt
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:rc0:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* Versions 1.6.0 rc0 Vulnerable ·kubevirt
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:rc1:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* Versions 1.6.0 rc1 Vulnerable ·kubevirt
Remediation
- Fix · CNA kubevirt (kubevirt) Fixed in 1.5.3, 1.6.1
- Fix · GHSA-qw6q-3pgr-5cwq kubevirt.io/kubevirt (Go) Fixed in 1.5.3 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-qw6q-3pgr-5cwq kubevirt.io/kubevirt (Go) Fixed in 1.6.1 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Web Terminal | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-64433
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qw6q-3pgr-5cwq
References
Patch 3
More Kubevirt vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-39759 KubeVirt Vulnerable to Arbitrary Host File Read and Write CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.5
- TI-2022-01664 Path Traversal vulnerability in Kubevirt CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.7
- TI-2025-39849 KubeVirt Excessive Role Permissions Could Enable Unauthorized VMI Migrations Between Nodes CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
- TI-2025-39847 KubeVirt Improper TLS Certificate Management Handling Allows API Identity Spoofing CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.3
- TI-2025-39848 KubeVirt VMI Denial-of-Service (DoS) Using Pod Impersonation CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2025-39850 KubeVirt Isolation Detection Flaw Allows Arbitrary File Permission Changes CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.0
Sources
- CVE-2025-64433 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-64433 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qw6q-3pgr-5cwq · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-64433 · 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