CVE-2026-55686: CWE-61: UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following in podman-container-tools podman
A vulnerability in podman versions from 3.0.0 up to but not including 5.7.1 allows a malicious container image with a symlink in the WORKDIR path to create directories or modify ownership on the host filesystem. The ownership modification requires a race condition triggered by an untrusted process. This issue is fixed in version 5.7.1.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-55686 is a symbolic link (symlink) following vulnerability (CWE-61) in podman-container-tools' podman product. From versions 3.0.0 through 5.7.0, if a malicious container image specifies a WORKDIR path containing a symlink, it can lead to directory creation or ownership modification on the host filesystem. Ownership modification is less likely and requires a race condition involving an untrusted process mutating the host filesystem during dereferencing of the symlink. The vulnerability is resolved in podman version 5.7.1.
Potential Impact
An attacker running a malicious container image can cause podman to create directories or modify ownership on the host filesystem by exploiting symlink dereferencing in the WORKDIR path. This can lead to unauthorized changes to the host filesystem's metadata, potentially impacting system integrity. However, the likelihood of ownership modification is reduced as it requires a race condition triggered by an additional malicious process.
Mitigation Recommendations
This vulnerability is fixed in podman version 5.7.1. Users should upgrade to version 5.7.1 or later to remediate this issue. No official patch or temporary fix details are provided beyond this version upgrade. Until upgraded, avoid running untrusted container images that specify WORKDIR paths containing symlinks.
CVE-2026-55686: CWE-61: UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following in podman-container-tools podman
Description
A vulnerability in podman versions from 3.0.0 up to but not including 5.7.1 allows a malicious container image with a symlink in the WORKDIR path to create directories or modify ownership on the host filesystem. The ownership modification requires a race condition triggered by an untrusted process. This issue is fixed in version 5.7.1.
CVSS v3.1
Score 5.3medium
Affected software
pkg:github/podman-container-tools/podmanRun 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-2026-55686 is a symbolic link (symlink) following vulnerability (CWE-61) in podman-container-tools' podman product. From versions 3.0.0 through 5.7.0, if a malicious container image specifies a WORKDIR path containing a symlink, it can lead to directory creation or ownership modification on the host filesystem. Ownership modification is less likely and requires a race condition involving an untrusted process mutating the host filesystem during dereferencing of the symlink. The vulnerability is resolved in podman version 5.7.1.
Potential Impact
An attacker running a malicious container image can cause podman to create directories or modify ownership on the host filesystem by exploiting symlink dereferencing in the WORKDIR path. This can lead to unauthorized changes to the host filesystem's metadata, potentially impacting system integrity. However, the likelihood of ownership modification is reduced as it requires a race condition triggered by an additional malicious process.
Mitigation Recommendations
This vulnerability is fixed in podman version 5.7.1. Users should upgrade to version 5.7.1 or later to remediate this issue. No official patch or temporary fix details are provided beyond this version upgrade. Until upgraded, avoid running untrusted container images that specify WORKDIR paths containing symlinks.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-06-17T00:13:10.650Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a3eae476e08203f7dc7e0ce
Added to database: 06/26/2026, 16:52:23 UTC
Last enriched: 06/26/2026, 17:07:06 UTC
Last updated: 06/26/2026, 17:07:06 UTC
Views: 3
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