contrast: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access
CVE-2026-100838 is a high-severity improper link resolution before file access vulnerability in contrast from Edgelesssys, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 1.19.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating contrast to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.22% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update contrast to 1.19.1 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgelesssys | contrast | before 1.19.1 | 1.19.1 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.6 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.1 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
Contrast is a confidential-computing runtime for Kubernetes. In versions before 1.19.1, the Kata agent policies generated by the Contrast CLI contained a flaw in the CopyFile verification that allowed arbitrary writes to the guest root filesystem. A malicious process on the untrusted host able to connect to the Kata agent VSOCK could issue a series of CopyFile requests to overwrite security-critical files in the guest or trick the workload into disclosing sensitive data, effectively amounting to a full guest takeover. Users unable to upgrade can apply an equivalent rego policy fix passed to 'contrast generate --policy'.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access
The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system. Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.
More Improper Link Resolution Before File Access vulnerabilities (CWE-59)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in contrast
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 7.1 High severity
Recent Improper Link Resolution Before File Access vulnerabilities
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.0 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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