CVE-2026-41579
runc: Malicious image with /dev symlink can trigger limited host filesystem integrity violations
Description
runc is a CLI tool for spawning and running containers according to the OCI specification. In versions prior to 1.3.6, 1.4.0-rc.1, 1.4.0-rc.12, 1.5.0-rc.1, and 1.5.0-rc.1, when setting up the container rootfs, setupPtmx and setupDevSymlinks call os.Remove and os.Symlink with a filepath.Join string which allow an image with /dev as a symlink to trick runc into deleting files called ptmx on the host or creating a hardcoded set of symlinks with specific names and targets in an arbitrary pre-existing host directory. This issue is not exploitable under Docker, because Docker creates a top-level read-only layer that masks any malicious /dev symlink present in the container image — unlike some other Linux container tooling, whose higher-level runtimes built on runc remain exposed to exploitation via a malicious image. This issue has been fixed in versions 1.3.6, 1.4.3 and 1.5.0.
INFO
Published Date :
July 1, 2026, 2:17 a.m.
Last Modified :
July 2, 2026, 7:36 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | |||||
| CVSS 3.1 | LOW | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update runc to version 1.3.6 or later.
- Update runc to version 1.4.3 or later.
- Update runc to version 1.5.0 or later.
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2026-41579 has a 1 public
PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-41579.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/864db8042dbb | Patch |
| https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/security/advisories/GHSA-xjvp-4fhw-gc47 | Mitigation Patch Vendor Advisory |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-41579 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-41579
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Look for possible escape vectors from a container
aws azure cicd devsecops docker kubernetes kubernetes-security cve-scanning kernel-hardening kernel-security container-security linux linux-kernel
Shell
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-41579 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-41579 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Jul. 02, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:linuxfoundation:runc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (excluding) 1.3.6 *cpe:2.3:a:linuxfoundation:runc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 1.4.0 up to (excluding) 1.4.3 *cpe:2.3:a:linuxfoundation:runc:1.5.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:linuxfoundation:runc:1.5.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/864db8042dbb Types: Patch Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/security/advisories/GHSA-xjvp-4fhw-gc47 Types: Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jul. 01, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-41579', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'none'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'partial'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-07-01T13:34:05.348945Z'} -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Jul. 01, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'vendor': 'opencontainers', 'product': 'runc', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '< 1.3.6'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '>= 1.4.0-rc.1, < 1.4.3'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '>= 1.5.0-rc.1, < 1.5.0-rc.3'}]}] Added Description runc is a CLI tool for spawning and running containers according to the OCI specification. In versions prior to 1.3.6, 1.4.0-rc.1, 1.4.0-rc.12, 1.5.0-rc.1, and 1.5.0-rc.1, when setting up the container rootfs, setupPtmx and setupDevSymlinks call os.Remove and os.Symlink with a filepath.Join string which allow an image with /dev as a symlink to trick runc into deleting files called ptmx on the host or creating a hardcoded set of symlinks with specific names and targets in an arbitrary pre-existing host directory. This issue is not exploitable under Docker, because Docker creates a top-level read-only layer that masks any malicious /dev symlink present in the container image — unlike some other Linux container tooling, whose higher-level runtimes built on runc remain exposed to exploitation via a malicious image. This issue has been fixed in versions 1.3.6, 1.4.3 and 1.5.0. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N Added CWE CWE-61 Added Reference https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/864db8042dbb Added Reference https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/security/advisories/GHSA-xjvp-4fhw-gc47