Host-file overwrite via unrestricted qemu-img format
Published Feb 18, 2026 · Updated Feb 18, 2026
Incorrect resource transfer in OpenStack Nova allows remote authenticated users to overwrite compute-host files during disk resize. In affected releases—before 30.2.2, 31.0.0 through 31.2.0, and 32.0.0 through 32.1.0—the Flat backend passes a guest-writable raw disk to qemu-img without a format restriction, so a forged QCOW header redirects writes to host paths. The attack requires an authenticated tenant to modify a root or ephemeral disk and trigger resize on a compute node configured with use_cow_images=False; writable host files and other tenants' data can be corrupted or destroyed.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect resource transfer in OpenStack Nova allows remote authenticated users to overwrite compute-host files during disk resize. In affected releases—before 30.2.2, 31.0.0 through 31.2.0, and 32.0.0 through 32.1.0—the Flat backend passes a guest-writable raw disk to qemu-img without a format restriction, so a forged QCOW header redirects writes to host paths. The attack requires an authenticated tenant to modify a root or ephemeral disk and trigger resize on a compute node configured with use_cow_images=False; writable host files and other tenants' data can be corrupted or destroyed.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-24708
- Published
- Feb 18, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 18, 2026
- Vendor
- OpenStack
- Product
- Nova
- Classifications
- CWE-73, CWE-669, T1485
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 18, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <30.2.2
- Affected versionversion=31.0.0 <31.2.1
- Affected versionversion=32.0.0 <32.1.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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