A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path leaf, but downstream helpers operate 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 cause virt-handler to apply file ownership or permission changes to an unintended host path.

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Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

The following default configurations in OpenShift Virtualization significantly reduce exploitability and impact: 1. Ensure SELinux is in enforcing mode (default in OpenShift). This restricts the set of host files that virt-handler can modify through this path, blocking operations on files with protected security labels. 2. RHCOS immutable filesystem layers prevent modification of core OS files. 3. Review RBAC policies to limit unnecessary pods/exec permissions on virt-launcher pods to reduce the attacker pool.

History

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate


Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in KubeVirt's safepath package. The OpenAtNoFollow function uses O_PATH|O_NOFOLLOW to obtain a file descriptor to a path leaf, but downstream helpers operate 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 cause virt-handler to apply file ownership or permission changes to an unintended host path.
Title Kubevirt: virt-handler-rhel9: kubevirt: safepath openatnofollow symlink following via /proc/self/fd allows host file metadata modification
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat container Native Virtualization
Weaknesses CWE-61
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:container_native_virtualization:4
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat container Native Virtualization
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L'}


Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: redhat

Published:

Updated: 2026-06-24T20:39:00.173Z

Reserved: 2026-06-24T13:58:29.925Z

Link: CVE-2026-13201

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-06-24T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-13201 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-06-25T00:30:03Z

Weaknesses