CVE-2026-44210Public exploitNetwork attack vector

VM escape via virtiofsd argument injection

Published Jul 23, 2026 · Updated Jul 23, 2026

Argument injection in Kata Containers before 3.31.0 allows remote authenticated users who can create pods to read and write host files. The runtime JSON-decodes virtio_fs_extra_args and appends the resulting values after virtiofsd's managed shared-directory option, so a later source=/ option replaces it with the host root. Default configurations enable that annotation and kernel_params, allowing a pod creator to expose the host filesystem inside the guest and alter host data.

CVSS severity9.9
Critical
EPSS probability0.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Argument injection in Kata Containers before 3.31.0 allows remote authenticated users who can create pods to read and write host files. The runtime JSON-decodes virtio_fs_extra_args and appends the resulting values after virtiofsd's managed shared-directory option, so a later source=/ option replaces it with the host root. Default configurations enable that annotation and kernel_params, allowing a pod creator to expose the host filesystem inside the guest and alter host data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-44210
Published
Jul 23, 2026
Updated
Jul 23, 2026
Vendor
Kata Containers
Product
Kata Containers
Classifications
CWE-88, CAPEC-137, T1611
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 23, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 23, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 3.31.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Kata Containers · Kata Containersversion=< 3.31.0

Published CVSS scores

5.8GitHub, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:P
9.9NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-88Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')
CAPEC-137Parameter Injection
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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