CVE-2026-44180: jupyter-server enterprise_gateway Improper Input Validation

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-44180 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in jupyter-server enterprise_gateway. EPSS estimates a 0.71% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 52.9% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 16-07-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 17-07-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Jupyter Enterprise Gateway launches remote Jupyter Notebook kernels across distributed clusters like Apache Spark, Kubernetes, and Docker Swarm. Versions 2.0.0rc1 and above prior to 3.3.0 have a prohibited UID and GID feature that by default prevents launching kernels with UID or GID 0 (root), and this restriction can be bypassed using a specially crafted KERNEL_UID or KERNEL_GID value. This input validation vulnerability allows running Jupyter kernels as root, which can be dangerous as it allows more attack surface, and may lead to container escapes, compromising the worker node and all workloads running on it. Repeated exploitation can compromise all worker nodes, and thus the entire Kubernetes cluster. It is possible to specify volume mounts, so one vector for a container escape is to use a hostPath R/W volume mount, use this UID/GID bypass to run as root, and then gain code execution in the underlying worker node by creating a crontab entry in the mounted host file system. This issue has been fixed in version 3.0.0.

• CWE-20Improper Input ValidationThe product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.