CVE-2026-24708

openstack-nova-compute: Arbitrary Host File Overwrite via Unconstrained qemu-img Format Handling in OpenStack Nova

Published Feb 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 8.2 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
An issue was discovered in OpenStack Nova before 30.2.2, 31 before 31.2.1, and 32 before 32.1.1. By writing a malicious QCOW header to a root or ephemeral disk and then triggering a resize, a user may convince Nova's Flat image backend to call qemu-img without a format restriction, resulting in an unsafe image resize operation that could destroy data on the host system. Only compute nodes using the Flat image backend (usually configured with use_cow_images=False) are affected.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4486-1 nova security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6145-1 nova security update
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-m4f3-qp2w-gwh6 OpenStack Nova calls qemu-img without format restrictions for resize
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8049-1 Nova vulnerability
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Openstack compute
Vendors & Products Openstack compute
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw in OpenStack Nova’s interaction with the qemu-img utility allows an authenticated user to overwrite arbitrary files on the compute host. This occurs because Nova invokes qemu-img without strictly constraining the disk image format, enabling a malicious user to craft a QCOW2 header on a raw disk and trigger destructive behavior during instance operations such as resize. An issue was discovered in OpenStack Nova before 30.2.2, 31 before 31.2.1, and 32 before 32.1.1. By writing a malicious QCOW header to a root or ephemeral disk and then triggering a resize, a user may convince Nova's Flat image backend to call qemu-img without a format restriction, resulting in an unsafe image resize operation that could destroy data on the host system. Only compute nodes using the Flat image backend (usually configured with use_cow_images=False) are affected.
First Time appeared Openstack
Openstack nova
Weaknesses CWE-669
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:openstack:nova:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Openstack
Openstack nova
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw in OpenStack Nova’s interaction with the qemu-img utility allows an authenticated user to overwrite arbitrary files on the compute host. This occurs because Nova invokes qemu-img without strictly constraining the disk image format, enabling a malicious user to craft a QCOW2 header on a raw disk and trigger destructive behavior during instance operations such as resize.
Title openstack-nova-compute: Arbitrary Host File Overwrite via Unconstrained qemu-img Format Handling in OpenStack Nova
Weaknesses CWE-73
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
mitre
Published
Updated
Sep 11, 2026, 12:09 PM
Reserved
Jan 24, 2026, 12:00 AM
Status
Deferred
Published
Feb 18, 2026, 6:24 PM
Modified
Sep 11, 2026, 1:17 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Feb 17, 2026, 3:00 PM