CVE-2026-50540: Kata Containers: Config Path Annotation Arbitrary File Loading

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-50540 is a critical (CVSS 9.6) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in kata-containers. EPSS estimates a 0.61% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 49% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 07-08-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 24-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Kata Containers is an open source project focusing on a standard implementation of lightweight Virtual Machines (VMs) that perform like containers. Prior to version 4.0.0, kata-runtime is vulnerable to host code execution via an unvalidated configuration path annotation. The runtime accepts an arbitrary io.katacontainers.config_path pod annotation and loads the referenced host TOML file without restriction. As a result, a pod user who can place a file at a host-visible path can supply a configuration that selects an attacker-controlled hypervisor or virtio-fs daemon binary, executing code as root on the host. This issue is fixed in version 4.0.0.

• 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.
• CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted DirectoryThe product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.