CVE-2026-50195Network attack vector

Victim pod code execution via image tag poisoning

Published Jul 1, 2026 · Updated Jul 1, 2026

Image tag poisoning in affected containerd releases allows remote authenticated users to execute code in victim pods through a crafted checkpoint image. The CRI checkpoint importer trusts image references embedded in the checkpoint configuration, pulls the referenced malicious image, and assigns an attacker-chosen local tag. Exploitation requires pod-creation permission and later use of the poisoned tag on the same node with an IfNotPresent or Never pull policy, causing the victim pod to run the malicious image under its own identity.

CVSS severity5.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Image tag poisoning in affected containerd releases allows remote authenticated users to execute code in victim pods through a crafted checkpoint image. The CRI checkpoint importer trusts image references embedded in the checkpoint configuration, pulls the referenced malicious image, and assigns an attacker-chosen local tag. Exploitation requires pod-creation permission and later use of the poisoned tag on the same node with an IfNotPresent or Never pull policy, causing the victim pod to run the malicious image under its own identity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-50195
Published
Jul 1, 2026
Updated
Jul 1, 2026
Vendor
containerd
Product
containerd
Classifications
CWE-345, CWE-829, T1036
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 1, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 1, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 2.1.0, < 2.1.9
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.5
  3. Affected versionversion=>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

containerd · containerdversion=>= 2.1.0, < 2.1.9; version=>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.5; version=>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.2

Published CVSS scores

5.6GitHub, Inc.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
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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-345Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
CWE-829Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere
T1036Masquerading

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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