All vulnerabilities
CVE-2026-95838GHSA-rp3h-jf77-q9p4GO-2026-6796

github.com/containerd/containerd/v2: containerd: Unpack DoS via repeated opaque whiteouts

containerd github.com/containerd/containerd/v2goContainers & cloud
Open in ThreatlineRecord JSON
CVSS
4.6Medium
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.21%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 11% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in2.0.12Also 1.7.35, 2.2.8 and 1 moreGitHub
Published12 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 2.0.12github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, goGitHubgo get github.com/containerd/containerd/v2@v2.0.12
  • 1.7.35github.com/containerd/containerd, goGitHubgo get github.com/containerd/containerd@v1.7.35
  • 2.2.8github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, goGitHubgo get github.com/containerd/containerd/v2@v2.2.8
  • 2.3.5github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, goGitHubgo get github.com/containerd/containerd/v2@v2.3.5
  • 2.0.12github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, GoOSVgo get github.com/containerd/containerd/v2@v2.0.12
  • 1.7.35github.com/containerd/containerd, GoOSVgo get github.com/containerd/containerd@v1.7.35
Show all 8 fixed versions
  • 2.2.8github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, GoOSVgo get github.com/containerd/containerd/v2@v2.2.8
  • 2.3.5github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, GoOSVgo get github.com/containerd/containerd/v2@v2.3.5

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

Impact

A vulnerability exists in containerd's layer unpack handler where the processing of certain image layers causes superlinear time complexity. During the unpack operation, specific file configurations within the layer can trigger repeated directory traversals.

Consequently, pulling or importing a maliciously crafted image can result in increased unpack times and a moderate increase in CPU usage. This delays container startup, even if the compressed image layers are small. Additionally, in orchestrators like Kubernetes that apply concurrency limits to image pulls, these excessively long operations can reduce the available concurrency for other pulls, potentially delaying unrelated container deployments.

Patches

This bug has been fixed in containerd 2.3.5, 2.2.8, 2.0.12, and 1.7.35. Users should update to these versions to resolve the issue.

Workarounds

There are no known workarounds for this issue. Users are advised to only pull and import trusted images from known registries until the patch can be applied.

Credits

The containerd project would like to thank Jakub Ciolek of AlphaSense for responsibly disclosing this issue in accordance with the containerd security policy.

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

  • Open an issue in containerd
  • Email us at [security@containerd.io](mailto:security@containerd.io)

To report a security issue in containerd:

Text from GitHub Advisory Database

Affected versions 13

  • github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, go< 2.0.12GitHub
  • github.com/containerd/containerd, go< 1.7.35GitHub
  • github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, go>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.8GitHub
  • github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, go>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.5GitHub
  • containerdaffected: < 1.7.35CVE List
  • containerdaffected: >= 2.0.0-beta.0, < 2.0.12CVE List
  • containerdaffected: >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.8CVE List
  • containerdaffected: >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.5CVE List
  • github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, go< 2.0.12, >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.8, >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.5GitHub
  • github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, Gofrom first release, fixed in 2.0.12OSV
  • github.com/containerd/containerd, Gofrom first release, fixed in 1.7.35OSV
  • github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, Gofrom 2.2.0, fixed in 2.2.8OSV
  • github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, Gofrom 2.3.0, fixed in 2.3.5OSV

References 4