CVE-2026-13201
Kubevirt: virt-handler-rhel9: kubevirt: safepath symlink following in virt-handler enables notify socket hijacking and node-level vm disruption
No known exploitation. EPSS puts it in the 18th percentile. A vendor fix is available.
What to do
The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.
What it is
From the CVE record
A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package used by virt-handler. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path leaf, but downstream operations resolve the path via /proc/self/fd/N using link-following syscalls. When the leaf is a symlink, the kernel dereferences it, defeating the intended no-follow protection. An attacker with access to a virt-launcher pod can exploit this to redirect virt-handler's IPC socket connections, including the notify socket used for VM domain lifecycle events. By hijacking this socket, the attacker can inject arbitrary domain events into virt-handler, causing it to take incorrect lifecycle actions, corrupt VM state in the Kubernetes API, or crash — resulting in sustained denial of VM management services for all virtual machines on the affected node. Additionally, the same symlink following flaw allows virt-handler to apply file ownership or permission changes to unintended host paths.
In plain language
No plain-language summary for this CVE yet.
Exploitation
Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.
- CISA KEV
Not in the catalog. CISA has not confirmed exploitation.
- Public exploits
No public exploit or proof of concept found in the sources we track.
- EPSS
0.3% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 18th percentile of scored CVEs.
Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.
Lifecycle
32 events over 89 days, from the signal feeds we watch.
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availablepatch available, workaround available, workaround available, record updated, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
Affected products
- Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.13Cloud & SaaS / virtualization
- Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.14Cloud & SaaS / virtualization
- Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.15Cloud & SaaS / virtualization
- Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.16Cloud & SaaS / virtualization
- Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.17Cloud & SaaS / virtualization
- Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.18Cloud & SaaS / virtualization
- Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.19Cloud & SaaS / virtualization
- Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.20Cloud & SaaS / virtualization
And 4 more affected products. See all after sign-in
Technical detail
CVSS 3.1 vector
Open in the CVSS calculatorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H
Scored 7.3 by NVD.
How it is reached
- Attack Vector LocalRequires local access to the vulnerable system (e.g. local login, malicious file)
- Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
- Privileges Required LowRequires basic user-level privileges
- User Interaction NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation
Scope
- Scope ChangedThe exploit can affect other components (e.g. sandbox escape, host compromise from VM)
Impact if exploited
- Confidentiality NoneNo confidentiality impact
- Integrity LowData modification is possible but limited in scope or consequence
- Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable
Weaknesses
Sources
References in the record
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:51031
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:53655
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:53671
And 9 more references. See all after sign-in
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