CVE-2026-53492: Github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 Containerd CRI Checkpoint Restore CDI Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2026-53492 is a HIGH containerd cri checkpoint restore cdi vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves containerd cri checkpoint restore cdi annotation smuggling. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.1.9, 2.2.5, 2.3.2.
CVE-2026-53492 at a Glance
How to Fix CVE-2026-53492
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Upgrade github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 to 2.1.9
Upgrade github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 to 2.2.5
Upgrade github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 to 2.3.2
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for github.com/containerd/containerd/v2
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2026-53492, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/containerd/containerd/v2:
inspect dependencies for github.com/containerd/containerd/v2
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.1.9), your application is affected.
Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Github.com/containerd/containerd/v2, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2026-53492 Affected Github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 Versions
3 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
github.com/containerd/containerd/v2
|
Go |
≥ 2.1.0
< 2.1.9
|
2.1.9
|
|
github.com/containerd/containerd/v2
|
Go |
≥ 2.2.0
< 2.2.5
|
2.2.5
|
|
github.com/containerd/containerd/v2
|
Go |
≥ 2.3.0
< 2.3.2
|
2.3.2
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-53492?
Which Github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-53492?
Is github.com/containerd/containerd/v2 affected?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-53492?
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2026-53492?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-33vj-92qq-66hc",
"modified" : "2026-06-19T19:35:40Z",
"published" : "2026-06-19T19:35:40Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-53492" ],
"summary" : "containerd CRI checkpoint restore CDI annotation smuggling",
"details" : "### Impact\n\ncontainerd's CRI implementation improperly trusts Container Device Interface (CDI) annotations found within untrusted checkpoint image metadata during container restoration. When restoring a container from a checkpoint, containerd preserves CDI-related annotations from the checkpoint archive rather than relying solely on the pod's create-time specification. This allows a user with pod creation permissions to bypass standard Kubernetes resource allocation and device plugin enforcement, injecting arbitrary CDI edits (such as device nodes and host mounts) into the restored container. Successful exploitation requires that the node has CDI enabled and contains a matching host CDI specification for the requested device; environments where CDI is disabled or lacking sensitive device specifications are not affected.\n\n### Patches\n\nThis bug has been fixed in the following containerd versions:\n\n* 2.3.2\n* 2.2.5\n* 2.1.9\n\nUsers should update to these versions to resolve the issue. Recreating existing containers restored from untrusted checkpoints may be necessary to remove smuggled configuration.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nUsers can mitigate this issue by restricting the restoration of containers from untrusted checkpoint images. If Container Device Interface (CDI) capabilities are not utilized on the node, removing or temporarily relocating host CDI specifications from the default directories (`/etc/cdi` and `/var/run/cdi`) will eliminate the reachability of this vulnerability.\n\n### Credits\n\nThe containerd project would like to thank Robert Prast (@robertprast) for responsibly disclosing this issue in accordance with the [containerd security policy](https://github.com/containerd/project/blob/main/SECURITY.md).\n\n### For more information\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n\n* Open an issue in [containerd](https://github.com/containerd/containerd/issues/new/choose)\n* Email us at [security@containerd.io](mailto:security@containerd.io)\n\nTo report a security issue in containerd:\n* [Report a new vulnerability](https://github.com/containerd/containerd/security/advisories/new)\n* Email us at [security@containerd.io](mailto:security@containerd.io)",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/containerd/containerd/v2"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.1.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.1.9"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/containerd/containerd/v2"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.2.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.2.5"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/containerd/containerd/v2"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.3.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.3.2"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/containerd/containerd/security/advisories/GHSA-33vj-92qq-66hc"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/containerd/containerd"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-863" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-06-19T19:35:40Z",
"nvd_published_at" : null
}
}