---
id: CVE-2026-19444
title: "A path traversal vulnerability was discovered in the Kubernetes\_kubectl\_client's\_kubectl cp\_command on Windows"
summary: "A path traversal vulnerability was discovered in the Kubernetes\_kubectl\_client's\_kubectl cp\_command on Windows. When copying files from a container,\_kubectl\_runs tar inside the container to build a tar archive, transfers it over the netw…"
severity: medium
cvss: 6.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-22
vendor: Kubernetes
product: Kubernetes
affected:
  - Kubernetes >= v1.36.0 <= v1.36.4
  - Kubernetes >= v1.35.0 <= v1.35.8
  - Kubernetes >= v1.34.0 <= v1.34.11
published: '2026-09-28'
updated: '2026-09-29'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-29T21:39:02.570'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-19444'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/141294'
    label: jordan@liggitt.net
  - url: 'https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/141296'
    label: jordan@liggitt.net
  - url: 'https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/v_ob5Gf4-eY'
    label: jordan@liggitt.net
  - url: 'http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/28/1'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-19444.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-19444'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2542443'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-19444'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-19444'
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
epss: 0.00228
epssPercentile: 0.13563
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-09-28T18:08:52.660901Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-09-28T13:09:42.225Z'
---

## Overview

A path traversal vulnerability was discovered in the Kubernetes kubectl client's kubectl cp command on Windows. When copying files from a container, kubectl runs tar inside the container to build a tar archive, transfers it over the network, and unpacks it on the local machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it can execute arbitrary code and emit unexpected output, allowing an attacker who controls container contents to write files to arbitrary paths on the user's local machine when kubectl cp is invoked, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. This issue only affects kubectl clients running on Windows.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: DPU kit for NVIDIA, Multicluster Engine for Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: DPU kit for NVIDIA, Multicluster Engine for Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · updated 2026-10-15 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-19444.json)