CVE-2024-21626: runc container breakout through process.cwd trickery and leaked fds
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Plan (action score 40/100)
- A ready-made attack module is public (Metasploit); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
- Public proof-of-concept code exists (GitHub); there is no record of exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 18.9% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 97.3% of all records.
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. No account or password is required. A user must open a link or visit a page. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: aardvark-dns (AlmaLinux:8) 2:1.7.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3657+d86e192f, 2:1.0.1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155; buildah (AlmaLinux:8) 1:1.31.3-3.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349, 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155; buildah-tests (AlmaLinux:8) 1:1.31.3-3.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349, 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155, 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3687+dcd7ef8f.
Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to aardvark-dns (AlmaLinux:8) 2:1.7.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3657+d86e192f, 2:1.0.1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155; buildah (AlmaLinux:8) 1:1.31.3-3.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349, 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155; buildah-tests (AlmaLinux:8) 1:1.31.3-3.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349, 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155, 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3687+dcd7ef8f or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
runc is a CLI tool for spawning and running containers on Linux according to the OCI specification. In runc 1.1.11 and earlier, due to an internal file descriptor leak, an attacker could cause a newly-spawned container process (from runc exec) to have a working directory in the host filesystem namespace, allowing for a container escape by giving access to the host filesystem ("attack 2"). The same attack could be used by a malicious image to allow a container process to gain access to the host filesystem through runc run ("attack 1"). Variants of attacks 1 and 2 could be also be used to overwrite semi-arbitrary host binaries, allowing for complete container escapes ("attack 3a" and "attack 3b"). runc 1.1.12 includes patches for this issue.
- BDU:2024-00973
- GHSA-xr7r-f8xq-vfvv
- ALSA-2024:0670
- ALSA-2024:0748
- ALSA-2024:0752
- DLA-3735-1
- DSA-5615-1
- GO-2024-2491
- openSUSE-SU-2024:13644-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:13754-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:14059-1
- openSUSE-SU-2025:0074-1
- RHEA-2024:6124
- RHSA-2024:0645
- RHSA-2024:0662
- RHSA-2024:0666
- RHSA-2024:0670
- RHSA-2024:0684
- RHSA-2024:0717
- RHSA-2024:0748
- Published
- Jan 31, 2024
- Updated
- Sep 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 18.9% · 97th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-403
Report tools
Action score
40
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 34 / 40 · 8.6 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 6 / 30 · 18.9%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- proof of concept
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 8.6
- CNA · GitHub_M
- 8.6
- agree
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- Weaponized exploit exists
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
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Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| linuxfoundation | runc | cpe:2.3:a:linuxfoundation:runc |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
Using runc? Add it to your stack and be the first to know about CVEs like this one. (Docker)
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- fedoraproject fedora39
- linuxfoundation runcbefore 1.1.12
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
opencontainers runc
- >=v1.0.0-rc93, < 1.1.12affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | aardvark-dns | before 2:1.7.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3657+d86e192f | 2:1.7.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3657+d86e192f |
| AlmaLinux:8 | aardvark-dns | before 2:1.0.1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 2:1.0.1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | buildah | before 1:1.31.3-3.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349 | 1:1.31.3-3.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | buildah | before 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | buildah-tests | before 1:1.31.3-3.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349 | 1:1.31.3-3.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | buildah-tests | before 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | buildah-tests | before 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3687+dcd7ef8f | 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3687+dcd7ef8f |
| AlmaLinux:8 | cockpit-podman | before 75-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 75-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | cockpit-podman | before 46-1.module_el8.7.0+3344+5bcd850f | 46-1.module_el8.7.0+3344+5bcd850f |
| AlmaLinux:8 | conmon | before 3:2.1.8-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 3:2.1.8-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | conmon | before 2:2.1.4-2.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 2:2.1.4-2.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | conmon | before 2:2.1.4-2.module_el8.9.0+3687+dcd7ef8f | 2:2.1.4-2.module_el8.9.0+3687+dcd7ef8f |
| AlmaLinux:8 | container-selinux | before 2:2.205.0-3.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 2:2.205.0-3.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | container-selinux | before 2:2.221.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 2:2.221.0-1.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | containernetworking-plugins | before 1:1.1.1-6.module_el8.9.0+3711+04fcca5e | 1:1.1.1-6.module_el8.9.0+3711+04fcca5e |
| AlmaLinux:8 | containernetworking-plugins | before 1:1.3.0-8.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349 | 1:1.3.0-8.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | containers-common | before 2:1-71.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349 | 2:1-71.module_el8.9.0+3717+81096349 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | containers-common | before 2:1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 | 2:1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | crit | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | crit | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb |
| AlmaLinux:8 | crit | before 3.18-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 3.18-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | criu | before 3.18-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b | 3.18-4.module_el8.9.0+3643+9234dc3b |
| AlmaLinux:8 | criu | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | criu | before 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb |
+96
Same product
linuxfoundation: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2021-30465runc before 1.0.0-rc95 allows a Container Filesystem Breakout via Directory Traversal.37Monitor
- CVE-2025-52565container escape due to /dev/console mount and related races33Monitor
- CVE-2023-28642AppArmor bypass with symlinked /proc in runc31Monitor
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2023-27561Mar 3, 2023 · runc through 1.1.4 has Incorrect Access Control leading to Escalation of Privileges, related to libcontainer/rootfs_linux.go.28Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2023-25809Mar 29, 2023 · rootless: `/sys/fs/cgroup` is writable when cgroupns isn't unshared in runc25Monitor
- Later →CVE-2024-45310Sep 3, 2024 · runc can be confused to create empty files/directories on the host14Monitor
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 |
|---|---|---|
| almalinux:aardvark-dns | 2:1.0.1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:buildah | 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:buildah-tests | 1:1.24.6-7.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:cockpit-podman | 46-1.module_el8.7.0+3344+5bcd850f · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:conmon | 2:2.1.4-2.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:container-selinux | 2:2.205.0-3.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:containernetworking-plugins | 1:1.1.1-6.module_el8.9.0+3711+04fcca5e · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:containers-common | 2:1-38.module_el8.9.0+3627+db8ec155 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:crit | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+3137+d33c3efb · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:criu | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:criu-devel | 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:runc | 4:1.1.12-1.el9_3 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:runc | 1.1.12-r0 · Alpine:v3.18 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:runc | 1.1.5+ds1-1+deb12u1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:github.com/opencontainers/runc | 1.1.12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:crun | 1.14.4-1.1 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:crun | 1.20-bp156.2.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:runc | 1.1.11-150000.58.1 · openSUSE:Leap Micro 5.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:singularity-ce | 4.1.3-1.1 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-gateway-api | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-gateway-api-release-info | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-greenboot | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-low-latency | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-multus | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-multus-release-info | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-networking | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-olm | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-olm-release-info | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-release-info | 0:4.18.1-202502201910.p0.g84f67ec.assembly.4.18.1.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.18::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
+16
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×1
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×21
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit module | exploit/linux/local/runc_cwd_priv_escrunc (docker) File Descriptor Leak Privilege Escalationexploit | 2024-01-31 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2024-02-01 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:80 | 2024-02-01 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2024-02-02 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:5 | 2024-02-02 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:4 | 2024-02-02 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:3 | 2024-02-02 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:6 | 2024-02-05 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2024-03-01 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:2 | 2024-03-15 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:2 | 2024-04-03 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:2 | 2024-04-10 |
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.
- Metasploit-1 d
- Published
- First PoCsame day
- TodayNov 10, 2026+1014 d
No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
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
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-403 · Exposure of File Descriptor to Unintended Control Sphere ('File Descriptor Leak')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/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.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (19 more)Show less
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/02/3
- github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/02120488a4c0fc487d1ed2867e901eeed7ce8ecf
- github.com/opencontainers/runc/releases/tag/v1.1.12
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/02/msg00005.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2NLXNE23Q5ESQUAI22Z7A63JX2WMPJ2J/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/SYMO3BANINS6RGFQFKPRG4FIOJ7GWYTL/
- www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/leaky-vessels-part-1-cve-2024-21626
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0645
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0662
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0666
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0670
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0684
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0717
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0748
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0752
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0755
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0756
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0757
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0758
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.