Kubernetes Java client libraries unvalidated path traversal in Copy implementation
Kubernetes Java client libraries in version 10.0.0 and versions prior to 9.0.1 allow writes to paths outside of the current directory when copying multiple files from a remote pod which sends a maliciously crafted archive. This can potentially overwrite any files on the system of the process executing the client code.
- Published
- Jan 21, 2021
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 3.6% · 89th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-23
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Report tools
Action score
37
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 36 / 40 · 9.1 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 3.6%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| kubernetes | java | cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:java |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- kubernetes javabefore 9.0.2
- kubernetes java10.0.0 and later · before 10.0.1
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (kubernetes). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Kubernetes Kubernetes Java Client
- all versions prior to 9.0affected
- 9.0 and later · before 9.0.2affected
- 10.0 and later · before 10.0.1affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | io.kubernetes:client-java | from 10.0.0 · before 10.0.1 | 10.0.1 |
| Maven | io.kubernetes:client-java | before 9.0.2 | 9.0.2 |
Same product
kubernetes: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2021-25738Code exec via yaml parsing26Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maven:io.kubernetes:client-java | 10.0.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:io.kubernetes:client-java | 9.0.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Proof of concept available
A public proof of concept or detection signature exists. Exploit knowledge is out there; don't delay patching.
Evidence
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2025-09-06 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Published
- First PoC+1688 d
- TodaySep 30, 2026+2078 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-23 · Relative Path TraversalCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- github.com/kubernetes-client/java/issues/1491
- groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/sd5h73sFPrg
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r0c76b3d0be348f788cd947054141de0229af00c540564711e828fd40%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1975078e44d96f2a199aa90aa874b57a202eaf7f25f2fde6d1c44942%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rcafa485d63550657f068775801aeb706b7a07140a8ebbdef822b3bb3%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/rdb223e1b82e3d7d8e4eaddce8dd1ab87252e3935cc41c859f49767b6%40%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.