CVE-2026-53488: containerd Input Validation Flaw — Fix

Description

containerd is an open-source container runtime. In versions prior to 1.7.33, 2.3.2, 2.2.5, 2.1.9, and 2.0.10 the CRI plugin propagates labels from an image config (LABEL instruction in Dockerfile) to a container without validation. This may result in executing an arbitrary command on the host, via a plugin that consumes container labels for some operations. This issue has been fixed in versions 1.7.33, 2.3.2, 2.2.5, 2.1.9, and 2.0.10.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

8.8

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0020

Probability of exploitation

0.10%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-20 Improper Input Validation

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
linuxfoundation	containerd	1.7.0 — 1.7.33
linuxfoundation	containerd	2.0.0 — 2.0.10
linuxfoundation	containerd	2.1.0 — 2.1.9
linuxfoundation	containerd	2.2.0 — 2.2.5
linuxfoundation	containerd	2.3.0 — 2.3.2

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/containerd/containerd/security/advisories/GHSA-xhf5-7wjv-pqxp

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-53488? +

containerd is an open-source container runtime. In versions prior to 1.7.33, 2.3.2, 2.2.5, 2.1.9, and 2.0.10 the CRI plugin propagates labels from an image config (LABEL instruction in Dockerfile) to a container without validation. This may result in executing an arbitrary command on the host, via a plugin that consumes container labels for some operations. This issue has been fixed in versions 1.7.33, 2.3.2, 2.2.5, 2.1.9, and 2.0.10. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-53488? +

CVE-2026-53488 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0020, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-53488? +

CVE-2026-53488 affects products from linuxfoundation, specifically: containerd. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-53488? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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