CVE-2026-54250: CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in k3s-io k3s
K3s is a fully conformant production-ready Kubernetes distribution. Prior to 1.35.3+k3s1, 1.34.6+k3s1, v1.33.10+k3s1, a path traversal vulnerability exists in K3s's etcd snapshot decompression functionality. Zip files containing archive members with maliciously crafted names can be written to arbitrary locations on the filesystem when an administrator restores the archive as a compressed etcd snapshot. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.35.3+k3s1, 1.34.6+k3s1, v1.33.10+k3s1.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-54250 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in the etcd snapshot decompression feature of K3s, a Kubernetes distribution. When an administrator restores an etcd snapshot from a compressed zip archive containing maliciously crafted file names, the decompression process may write files outside the intended directory, potentially overwriting arbitrary files on the filesystem. This can lead to integrity and availability impacts. The vulnerability affects versions prior to 1.35.3+k3s1, 1.34.6+k3s1, and v1.33.10+k3s1 and is fixed in these versions.
Potential Impact
An attacker with the ability to provide a malicious compressed etcd snapshot archive to an administrator performing a restore can cause arbitrary files to be written to the filesystem outside the intended directory. This can result in integrity and availability impacts, such as overwriting critical files or disrupting system operation. Confidentiality is not impacted according to the CVSS vector.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade to K3s versions 1.35.3+k3s1, 1.34.6+k3s1, or v1.33.10+k3s1 or later, where this path traversal vulnerability is fixed. No other mitigation or temporary workaround is specified. Patch status is confirmed by the version information in the description.
CVE-2026-54250: CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in k3s-io k3s
Description
K3s is a fully conformant production-ready Kubernetes distribution. Prior to 1.35.3+k3s1, 1.34.6+k3s1, v1.33.10+k3s1, a path traversal vulnerability exists in K3s's etcd snapshot decompression functionality. Zip files containing archive members with maliciously crafted names can be written to arbitrary locations on the filesystem when an administrator restores the archive as a compressed etcd snapshot. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.35.3+k3s1, 1.34.6+k3s1, v1.33.10+k3s1.
CVSS v3.1
Score 5.8medium
Affected software
pkg:github/k3s-io/k3sRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-54250 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in the etcd snapshot decompression feature of K3s, a Kubernetes distribution. When an administrator restores an etcd snapshot from a compressed zip archive containing maliciously crafted file names, the decompression process may write files outside the intended directory, potentially overwriting arbitrary files on the filesystem. This can lead to integrity and availability impacts. The vulnerability affects versions prior to 1.35.3+k3s1, 1.34.6+k3s1, and v1.33.10+k3s1 and is fixed in these versions.
Potential Impact
An attacker with the ability to provide a malicious compressed etcd snapshot archive to an administrator performing a restore can cause arbitrary files to be written to the filesystem outside the intended directory. This can result in integrity and availability impacts, such as overwriting critical files or disrupting system operation. Confidentiality is not impacted according to the CVSS vector.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade to K3s versions 1.35.3+k3s1, 1.34.6+k3s1, or v1.33.10+k3s1 or later, where this path traversal vulnerability is fixed. No other mitigation or temporary workaround is specified. Patch status is confirmed by the version information in the description.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-06-12T16:25:43.085Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a3d73fb4853345fc14dfa35
Added to database: 06/25/2026, 18:31:23 UTC
Last enriched: 06/25/2026, 18:47:12 UTC
Last updated: 06/25/2026, 20:53:59 UTC
Views: 3
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