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CVE Record

CVE-2026-7374: Kubevirt: kubevirt virt-handler: privilege escalation and node compromise via symlink following vulnerability

A flaw was found in KubeVirt's virt-handler component. This vulnerability allows an authenticated OpenShift user with edit permissions in a single namespace to exploit improper symlink validation when connecting to virtual machine console sockets. By replacing the console socket with a symlink to the host's container runtime (CRI-O) socket, an attacker can hijack virt-handler's privileged connection. This enables the attacker to access any Unix socket on the host, potentially leading to full control of the node and the entire cluster.

CriticalCVSS 9.9Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-7374 is a critical KubeVirt virt-handler flaw in Red Hat Container Native Virtualization. A user with edit rights in one OpenShift namespace could potentially turn limited access into host node and cluster control by abusing symlink handling around VM console sockets.

Executive priority

Treat as urgent for OpenShift virtualization environments. The vulnerability can convert ordinary namespace edit access into potential node and cluster takeover. Patch planning should be immediate, with temporary RBAC tightening where updates cannot be applied quickly.

Technical view

The flaw is CWE-59 improper symlink following in virt-handler. An authenticated namespace editor can replace a VM console socket with a symlink to a host Unix socket such as CRI-O. virt-handler’s privileged connection may then be hijacked, enabling access to host sockets and potential node or cluster compromise.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to OpenShift clusters running Red Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.12 through 4.21 as listed, with KubeVirt virt-handler deployed and users granted namespace edit permissions. One affected entry appears inconsistent: product says 4.2 while CPE indicates 4.20.

Exploitation context

The attacker needs authenticated OpenShift access with edit permissions in a single namespace. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other cited evidence of active exploitation. The impact is severe because compromise can cross from namespace-level access to the host and cluster.

Researcher notes

Sources provide mechanism, CVSS 9.9, affected CNV versions, and Red Hat advisories, but not detailed fixed package mapping in the bundle. Avoid assuming exploit availability. Validate directly against Red Hat CVE, CSAF/VEX, Bugzilla, and the relevant RHSA for each deployed version.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the relevant Red Hat RHSA update for your CNV version.
  • Review Red Hat CVE guidance for fixed package versions and deployment instructions.
  • Restrict namespace edit permissions to trusted users only.
  • Audit VM console access and KubeVirt administrative permissions.
  • Prioritize clusters hosting sensitive workloads or shared tenant namespaces.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Red Hat Container Native Virtualization versions across OpenShift clusters.
  • Confirm whether virt-handler packages match affected versions listed by Red Hat.
  • Check whether applicable RHSA advisories are installed.
  • Review RBAC for users with edit access in VM namespaces.
  • Monitor for suspicious VM console socket or host socket access activity.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-59: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Container behavior lookup

The affected technology mentions containers, so container-specific ATT&CK technique review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-7374 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.9 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

2CVSS vectors
7Timeline events
2ADP providers
14Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.9CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H3.16redhat
9.9CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H3.16redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.9Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-7374Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  2. Source timelineredhat

    Reported to Red Hat.

  3. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  4. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  5. Source timelineredhat

    Made public.

  6. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  7. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
redhat-SADPkubevirt: KubeVirt virt-handler: Privilege escalation and node compromise via symlink following vulnerability
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-04-22T07:20:25.000Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-05-26T12:30:00.000Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.12container-native-virtualization/virt-handler, 1779375376affected
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.13container-native-virtualization/virt-handler-rhel9, 1778999881affected
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.14container-native-virtualization/virt-handler-rhel9, 1779321599affected
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.15container-native-virtualization/virt-handler-rhel9, 1778859977affected
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.16container-native-virtualization/virt-handler-rhel9, 1778861274affected
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.17container-native-virtualization/virt-handler-rhel9, 1779174925affected
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.18container-native-virtualization/virt-handler-rhel9, 1778887155affected
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.19container-native-virtualization/virt-handler-rhel9, 1779289071affected
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.2container-native-virtualization/virt-handler-rhel9, 1779288737affected
Red HatRed Hat Container Native Virtualization 4.21container-native-virtualization/virt-handler-rhel9, 1779420069affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-59

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-59 · source CWE mapping

Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs