CVE-2020-2026Public exploit

Host code execution via guest-controlled bind mount

Published Jun 10, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Link following in Kata Containers 1.9 and earlier, 1.10 before 1.10.5, and 1.11 before 1.11.1 allows local users to execute host code. The kata-runtime leaves its host shared directory writable by the guest, then follows a guest-created symlink while bind-mounting a container root filesystem. The attacker must control a guest before container creation; redirecting the mount onto /bin, /lib, or another host path enables host execution or a service interruption.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Link following in Kata Containers 1.9 and earlier, 1.10 before 1.10.5, and 1.11 before 1.11.1 allows local users to execute host code. The kata-runtime leaves its host shared directory writable by the guest, then follows a guest-created symlink while bind-mounting a container root filesystem. The attacker must control a guest before container creation; redirecting the mount onto /bin, /lib, or another host path enables host execution or a service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-2026
Published
Jun 10, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Kata Containers
Product
Kata Containers
Classifications
CWE-59, T1611
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.10 <1.10.5
  2. Affected versionversion=1.11 <1.11.1
  3. Affected versionversion=1 <=1.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Kata Containers · Kata Containersversion=1.10 <1.10.5; version=1.11 <1.11.1; version=1 <=1.9

Published CVSS scores

8.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1611Escape to Host

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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