CVE-2026-13218: Kubevirt: kubevirt: symlink following in writetocachedfile allows host file overwrite from virt-launcher
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2026-13218 is a medium (CVSS 4.2) UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following vulnerability in kubevirt. EPSS estimates a 0.14% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 3.2% of scored vulnerabilities.
Not severe (CVSS 4.2, local access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Timeline
- 25-06-2026PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 26-06-2026Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
A flaw was found in KubeVirt's virt-handler network cache handling. The WriteToCachedFile function writes data to a launcher-rooted path using os.WriteFile and os.Chown without symlink protection. A user with access to the virt-launcher container can plant a symlink at the cache file path, causing virt-handler to follow it and overwrite an arbitrary host file with JSON content and change its ownership.
CVSS metrics
2 scores · 2 sources · 1 version- NVDNIST4.2MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L
EPSS trend
Probability
0.14%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
3%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
No change 0.00 pp
From 0.14% on 04-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
ENISA CNWNot in the ENISA CNW catalog.
CIRCLNot in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Known conditions: local access, low-privilege account, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Kubevirt1 product
- kubevirtna
Redhat1 product
- openshift_virtualization≥ 4, ≤ 4.22.0
2 vendors · 2 products