Node-wide VM disruption via symlinked notify socket
Published Jun 24, 2026 · Updated Aug 16, 2026
Link following in KubeVirt safepath in Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization allows local users to interrupt VM management via pod symlinks. OpenAtNoFollow opens a path leaf with O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW, but later helpers resolve /proc/self/fd/N with link-following syscalls, so a leaf symlink can redirect virt-handler's notify and IPC sockets or its chmod and chown operations. Exploitation requires access inside a virt-launcher pod; forged lifecycle events can corrupt VMI state in Kubernetes or crash virt-handler and deny VM management on the affected node, while host-file permission changes remain bounded by SELinux and immutable host layers.
Summary
What happened
Link following in KubeVirt safepath in Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization allows local users to interrupt VM management via pod symlinks. OpenAtNoFollow opens a path leaf with O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW, but later helpers resolve /proc/self/fd/N with link-following syscalls, so a leaf symlink can redirect virt-handler's notify and IPC sockets or its chmod and chown operations. Exploitation requires access inside a virt-launcher pod; forged lifecycle events can corrupt VMI state in Kubernetes or crash virt-handler and deny VM management on the affected node, while host-file permission changes remain bounded by SELinux and immutable host layers.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-13201
- Published
- Jun 24, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 16, 2026
- Vendor
- 389 Directory Server
- Product
- Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.13
- Classifications
- CWE-61, T1565.001, T1559
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 16, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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