CVE-2026-50195

containerd: CRI checkpoint import allows local image tag poisoning

Published Jul 1, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 5.6 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
containerd is an open-source container runtime. Versions prior to 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9 contain a vulnerability in the CRI checkpoint import process where it fails to validate the image references specified within a checkpoint image's configuration. An attacker with permissions to create pods can use a crafted checkpoint image to force containerd to pull a malicious image and assign it an arbitrary local tag, thereby poisoning the node's local image cache. Subsequently, if other pods on the same node attempt to use the poisoned tag with an IfNotPresent (or Never) pull policy, they will unknowingly execute the attacker's malicious image instead of the legitimate one. This can lead to a compromise of the affected pods, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code under the victim pod's identity. This issue has been fixed in versions 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-cvxm-645q-p574 containerd: CRI checkpoint import allows local image tag poisoning
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8472-1 containerd vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8473-1 containerd vulnerabilities
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
Weaknesses CWE-1289
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Containerd
Containerd containerd
Vendors & Products Containerd
Containerd containerd
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description containerd is an open-source container runtime. Versions prior to 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9 contain a vulnerability in the CRI checkpoint import process where it fails to validate the image references specified within a checkpoint image's configuration. An attacker with permissions to create pods can use a crafted checkpoint image to force containerd to pull a malicious image and assign it an arbitrary local tag, thereby poisoning the node's local image cache. Subsequently, if other pods on the same node attempt to use the poisoned tag with an IfNotPresent (or Never) pull policy, they will unknowingly execute the attacker's malicious image instead of the legitimate one. This can lead to a compromise of the affected pods, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code under the victim pod's identity. This issue has been fixed in versions 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9.
Title containerd: CRI checkpoint import allows local image tag poisoning
Weaknesses CWE-345
CWE-829
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 5.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:L'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jul 1, 2026, 6:32 PM
Reserved
Jun 3, 2026, 10:05 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 1, 2026, 7:16 PM
Modified
Jul 2, 2026, 7:43 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jul 1, 2026, 5:50 PM