CVE-2026-50195
criticalpriority · track · 40OT risk · elevatedEPSS 0.003 · 23 %ileDEEUFRRUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-26
containerd is an open-source container runtime. Versions prior to 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9 contain a vulnerability in the CRI checkpoint import process where it fails to validate the image references specified within a checkpoint image's configuration. An attacker with permissions to create pods can use a crafted checkpoint image to force containerd to pull a malicious image and assign it an arbitrary local tag, thereby poisoning the node's local image cache. Subsequently, if other pods on the same node attempt to use the poisoned tag with an IfNotPresent (or Never) pull policy, they will unknowingly execute the attacker's malicious image instead of the legitimate one. This can lead to a compromise of the affected pods, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code under the victim pod's identity. This issue has been fixed in versions 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · low–critical · 1.4–9.9
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (26)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
- Google Cloud Platform GKE container runtimeall versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:google:cloud_platform:gke_container_runtime
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Cluster Securityall versionscert_bundDEcpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:advanced_cluster_security
advisories (4)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2026-2009Google Cloud Platform (GKE containerd): Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-06-18csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein entfernter, authentisierter Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Google Cloud Platform ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen, Sicherheitsmaßnahmen zu umgehen, Daten zu manipulieren, vertrauliche Informationen offenzulegen oder einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand zu verursachen.
- GHSA-cvxm-645q-p574containerd: CRI checkpoint import allows local image tag poisoning2026-06-19ghsa · osvUS
## Impact containerd's CRI checkpoint import process contains a vulnerability where it fails to validate the image references specified within a checkpoint image's configuration. An attacker with permissions to create pods can use a crafted checkpoint image to force containerd to pull a malicious image and assign it an arbitrary local tag, thereby poisoning the node's local image cache. Subsequently, if other pods on the same node attempt to use the poisoned tag with an `IfNotPresent` (or `Never`) pull policy, they will unknowingly execute the attacker's malicious image instead of the legitimate one. This can lead to a compromise of the affected pods, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code under the victim pod's identity. ## Patches This bug has been fixed in the following containerd versions: * 2.3.2 * 2.2.5 * 2.1.9 Users should update to these versions to resolve the issue. ## Workarounds Users should only allow trusted images to be pulled. ## Credits The containerd project would like to thank Henry Beberman (@hbeberman) of Microsoft, the GKE Security Team using Gemini, Anthropic Research, in collaboration with Claude, and Robert Prast (@robertprast) who independently discovered and responsibly disclosed this issue in accordance with the [containerd security policy](https://github.com/containerd/project/blob/main/SECURITY.md). ## For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [containerd](https://github.com/containerd/containerd/issues/new/choose) * Email us at [security@containerd.io](mailto:security@containerd.io) To report a security issue in containerd: * [Report a new vulnerability](https://github.com/containerd/containerd/security/advisories/new) * Email us at [security@containerd.io](mailto:security@containerd.io)
- CERTFR-2026-AVI-1385Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits VMwareFrançais2026-10-26vendor · certfrFR
- GO-2026-5338containerd: CRI checkpoint import allows local image tag poisoning in github.com/containerd/containerd2026-06-25vendor · osvUS
containerd: CRI checkpoint import allows local image tag poisoning in github.com/containerd/containerd
also known as (7)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
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references (3)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
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