CVE-2026-53492: containerd Input Validation Flaw — Fix

Description

containerd is an open-source container runtime. In Versions prior to 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9, the CRI implementation improperly trusts Container Device Interface (CDI) annotations found within untrusted checkpoint image metadata during container restoration. When restoring a container from a checkpoint, containerd preserves CDI-related annotations from the checkpoint archive rather than relying solely on the pod's create-time specification. This allows a user with pod creation permissions to bypass standard Kubernetes resource allocation and device plugin enforcement, injecting arbitrary CDI edits (such as device nodes and host mounts) into the restored container. Successful exploitation requires that the node has CDI enabled and contains a matching host CDI specification for the requested device; environments where CDI is disabled or lacking sensitive device specifications are not affected. This issue has been fixed in versions 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

9.6

CRITICAL

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

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0041

Probability of exploitation

0.33%

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

CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
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-33vj-92qq-66hc

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-53492? +

containerd is an open-source container runtime. In Versions prior to 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9, the CRI implementation improperly trusts Container Device Interface (CDI) annotations found within untrusted checkpoint image metadata during container restoration. When restoring a container from a checkpoint, containerd preserves CDI-related annotations from the checkpoint archive rather than relying solely on the pod's create-time specification. This allows a user with pod creation permissions to bypass standard Kubernetes resource allocation and device plugin enforcement, injecting arbitrary CDI edits (such as device nodes and host mounts) into the restored container. Successful exploitation requires that the node has CDI enabled and contains a matching host CDI specification for the requested device; environments where CDI is disabled or lacking sensitive device specifications are not affected. This issue has been fixed in versions 2.3.2, 2.2.5 and 2.1.9. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.6 (CRITICAL).

How severe is CVE-2026-53492? +

CVE-2026-53492 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.6 out of 10, rated CRITICAL. This is a critical vulnerability that should be patched immediately. The EPSS score is 0.0041, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-53492? +

CVE-2026-53492 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-2026-53492? +

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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