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CVE-2026-46680 — Vulnerability in...

HIGH

containerd user ID handling bypass allows runAsNonRoot evasion

Published May 21, 2026Updated September 10, 2026Source: osv

Summary

### Impact A bug was found in containerd where containers launched with a numeric `User` directive that cannot be parsed as a 32-bit integer are incorrectly treated as a username. If a crafted image provides an `/etc/passwd` file mapping this large numeric string to root, the container ultimately runs as root (UID 0). This allows the Kubernetes `runAsNonRoot` restriction to be bypassed, causing unexpected behavior for environments that require containers to run as a non-root user. ### Patches This bug has been fixed in the following containerd versions: * 2.3.1 * 2.2.4 * 2.0.9 * 1.7.32 Note: The containerd 2.1 release has reached its [end of life](https://containerd.io/releases/#current-state-of-containerd-releases) and a fixed version is not provided. Users should update to these versions to resolve the issue. ### Workarounds Ensure that only trusted images are used and that only trusted users have permissions to import images. Alternatively, enforcing a specific numeric `runAsUser` in the Kubernetes Pod `securityContext` overrides the `USER` directive in the image and prevents the bypass. Newer versions of Kubernetes, starting with 1.34, also appear to enforce `runAsNonRoot` properly regardless of this bug. ### Credits The containerd project would like to thank Lei Wang (@ssst0n3) for responsibly disclosing this issue in accordance with the [containerd security policy](https://github.com/containerd/project/blob/main/SECURITY.md). ### Resources * https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-265r-hfxg-fhmg (CVE-2024-40635) ### For more information If there are any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [containerd](https://github.com/containerd/containerd/issues/new/choose) * Send an email to [security@containerd.io](mailto:security@containerd.io) To report a security issue in containerd: * [Report a new vulnerability](https://github.com/containerd/containerd/security/advisories/new) * Send an email to [security@containerd.io](mailto:security@containerd.io)

Advisory Timeline

  • First published May 21, 2026 (144 days ago).
  • Last revised September 10, 2026 — 111 days after initial publication.

Remediation

Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.

Go
Update github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 to 2.2.4 or later
go get github.com/containerd/containerd/v2@v2.2.4
Go
Update github.com/containerd/containerd to 1.7.32 or later
go get github.com/containerd/containerd@v1.7.32
Go
Update github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 to 2.3.1 or later
go get github.com/containerd/containerd/v2@v2.3.1
Go
Update github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 to 2.0.9 or later
go get github.com/containerd/containerd/v2@v2.0.9

After upgrading, run your dependency scanner again to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.

Affected Packages (4)

Affects 1 ecosystem: go (2).

PackageEcosystemAffectedFixed In
github.com/containerd/containerd/v2
go
All versions2.2.4
github.com/containerd/containerd
go
All versions1.7.32
github.com/containerd/containerd/v2
go
All versions2.3.1
github.com/containerd/containerd/v2
go
All versions2.0.9

Vulnerability Classification

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers for this vulnerability type.

CVSS Score Breakdown

What the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) 7.8 score means for each attack dimension.

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-46680?
containerd user ID handling bypass allows runAsNonRoot evasion This vulnerability has been assigned a severity rating of HIGH (CVSS score: 7.8/10).
How do I check if my project is affected by CVE-2026-46680?
CVE-2026-46680 affects github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 and github.com/containerd/containerd. Use GeekWala's free vulnerability scanner to check your dependencies against CVE-2026-46680 and 200,000+ other known vulnerabilities.

Severity & Exploitability

CVSS Score
7.8

High exploitability or significant impact. Prioritize remediation within days.

Also Known As

GHSA-fqw6-gf59-qr4w
GO-2026-5378

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