Distribution: Tag deletion bypasses `storage.delete.enabled` configuration
Priority HIGH 67CWE-863Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Low · Low
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-863.
Summary
Distribution is a toolkit to pack, ship, store, and deliver container content. Prior to 3.1.1, tag deletion via the DELETE /v2/<name>/manifests/<tag> endpoint bypasses the storage.delete.enabled: false configuration, allowing any API client to remove tags from repositories even when the operator has explicitly disabled deletion. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.1.1.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00294 22nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial distribution (distribution): 3.1.1github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 (Go): 3.1.1Red Hat: 1 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| distribution | distribution | before 3.1.1 | 3.1.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 (Go) | before 3.1.1 | 3.1.1 | Patch available | GHSA-6pjf-3r9x-m592 |
| — | github.com/distribution/distribution (Go) | up to 2.8.3 | — | No fix listed | GHSA-6pjf-3r9x-m592 |
- distribution Vendordistribution Affected before 3.1.1 Fixed in 3.1.1 Patch available CNA
- github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 (Go) Vendor— Affected before 3.1.1 Fixed in 3.1.1 Patch available GHSA-6pjf-3r9x-m592
- github.com/distribution/distribution (Go) Vendor— Affected up to 2.8.3 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-6pjf-3r9x-m592
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:distribution:distribution:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 3.1.1 | Vulnerable | distribution |
- cpe:2.3:a:distribution:distribution:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.1.1 Vulnerable ·distribution
Remediation
- Fix · CNA distribution (distribution) Fixed in 3.1.1
- Fix · GHSA-6pjf-3r9x-m592 github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 (Go) Fixed in 3.1.1 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 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-41888
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6pjf-3r9x-m592
References
More Distribution vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-27326 Distribution has stale blob access resurrection via repo-scoped redis descriptor cache invalidation CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-41888 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-41888 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6pjf-3r9x-m592 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-41888 · 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