CVE-2026-13622

Kubevirt: virt-handler-rhel9: kubevirt: virt-handler migration proxy follows symlinks allowing container escape to host

Published Aug 12, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 8.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A symlink following vulnerability was found in KubeVirt's virt-handler migration proxy. During live migration, virt-handler dials Unix sockets inside the target virt-launcher pod via /proc/<pid>/root/ paths using net.Dial() without symlink protection. These socket paths reside in qemu-owned directories writable by the virt-launcher user. An attacker with namespace edit and pods/exec permissions can replace a migration proxy socket with a symlink to the host CRI-O socket. Because virt-handler runs as root in the host mount namespace, absolute symlink targets resolve against the host filesystem, and the bidirectional io.Copy proxy relays attacker-controlled bytes to the container runtime, enabling full node compromise.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Restrict pods/exec permissions in namespaces that run virtual machines. The pods/exec RBAC permission is required for the attack — removing it from VM operator roles prevents exploitation. Additionally, enable Kubernetes audit logging and monitor for kubectl exec commands targeting virt-launcher pods, especially during live migration events.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4 cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.12::el8
cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.15::el9
cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.16::el9
cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.19::el9
cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.21::el9
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.13::el9
cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.14::el9
cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.17::el9
cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.18::el9
cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.20::el9
cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4.22::el9
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Kubevirt
Kubevirt kubevirt
Redhat openshift Virtualization
Vendors & Products Kubevirt
Kubevirt kubevirt
Redhat openshift Virtualization
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A symlink following vulnerability was found in KubeVirt's virt-handler migration proxy. During live migration, virt-handler dials Unix sockets inside the target virt-launcher pod via /proc/<pid>/root/ paths using net.Dial() without symlink protection. These socket paths reside in qemu-owned directories writable by the virt-launcher user. An attacker with namespace edit and pods/exec permissions can replace a migration proxy socket with a symlink to the host CRI-O socket. Because virt-handler runs as root in the host mount namespace, absolute symlink targets resolve against the host filesystem, and the bidirectional io.Copy proxy relays attacker-controlled bytes to the container runtime, enabling full node compromise.
Title Kubevirt: virt-handler-rhel9: kubevirt: virt-handler migration proxy follows symlinks allowing container escape to host
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat container Native Virtualization
Weaknesses CWE-22
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat container Native Virtualization
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Sep 21, 2026, 4:31 PM
Reserved
Jun 29, 2026, 9:41 AM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Aug 12, 2026, 9:17 PM
Modified
Oct 23, 2026, 7:10 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Aug 12, 2026, 12:00 AM