CVE-2019-1002101
The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine.
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 12.8%, higher than 96% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
The kubectl cp command allows copying files between containers and the user machine. To copy files from a container, Kubernetes creates a tar inside the container, copies it over the network, and kubectl unpacks it on the user’s machine. If the tar binary in the container is malicious, it could run any code and output unexpected, malicious results. An attacker could use this to write files to any path on the user’s machine when kubectl cp is called, limited only by the system permissions of the local user. The untar function can both create and follow symbolic links. The issue is resolved in kubectl v1.11.9, v1.12.7, v1.13.5, and v1.14.0.
- CVSS 3.0
- 5.5 MEDIUMCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- EPSS
- 12.80% probability · 96th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-59
- Affected
- kubernetes/kubernetes · redhat/openshift container platform
- Source
- josh@bress.net
EPSS moved from 10.3% on 21 September 2026 to 12.8% on 27 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
References
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/06/21/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/08/05/5
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/107652Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0619
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0620
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0636
- https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/75037Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BPV2RE5RMOGUVP5WJMXKQJZUBBLAFZPZ/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QZB7E3DOZ5WDG46XAIU6K32CXHXPXB2F/
- https://www.twistlock.com/labs-blog/disclosing-directory-traversal-vulnerability-kubernetes-copy-cve-2019-1002101/
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2019-1002101Third Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/06/21/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/08/05/5
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/107652Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0619
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0620
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0636
- https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/75037Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BPV2RE5RMOGUVP5WJMXKQJZUBBLAFZPZ/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QZB7E3DOZ5WDG46XAIU6K32CXHXPXB2F/
- https://www.twistlock.com/labs-blog/disclosing-directory-traversal-vulnerability-kubernetes-copy-cve-2019-1002101/
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.