CVE-2026-35206: Helm.sh/helm/v4 Helm Chart Extraction Output Directory Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2026-35206 is a MODERATE helm chart extraction output directory vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Helm.sh/helm/v4 libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves helm chart extraction output directory collapse via `chart.yaml` name dot-segment. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.1.4, 3.20.2.
CVE-2026-35206 at a Glance
How to Fix CVE-2026-35206
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Helm.sh/helm/v4 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 helm.sh/helm/v4 to 4.1.4Upgrade helm.sh/helm/v3 to 3.20.2Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for helm.sh/helm/v4How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2026-35206, inspect your project dependencies for Helm.sh/helm/v4:
inspect dependencies for helm.sh/helm/v4Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Helm.sh/helm/v4 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.1.4), 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-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. In Helm.sh/helm/v4, 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-2026-35206 Affected Helm.sh/helm/v4 Versions
2 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
helm.sh/helm/v4
|
Go |
< 4.1.4
|
4.1.4
|
|
helm.sh/helm/v3
|
Go |
< 3.20.2
|
3.20.2
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-35206?
Which Helm.sh/helm/v4 versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-35206?
Is helm.sh/helm/v4 affected?
Is helm.sh/helm/v3 affected?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-35206?
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2026-35206?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-hr2v-4r36-88hr",
"modified" : "2026-04-10T15:33:09Z",
"published" : "2026-04-10T15:33:09Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-35206" ],
"summary" : "Helm Chart extraction output directory collapse via `Chart.yaml` name dot-segment",
"details" : "Helm is a package manager for Charts for Kubernetes. In Helm versions <=3.20.1 and <=4.1.3, a specially crafted Chart will cause `helm pull --untar [chart URL | repo/chartname]` to write the Chart's contents to the immediate output directory (as defaulted to the current working directory; or as given by the `--destination` and `--untardir` flags), rather than the expected output directory suffixed by the chart's name.\n\n### Impact\n\nThe bug enables writing the Chart's contents (unpackaged/untar'ed) to the output directory `<output dir>/`, instead of the expected `<output dir>/<chart name>/`, potentially overwriting the contents of the targeted directory.\n\nNote: a chart name containing POSIX dot-dot, or dot-dot and slashes (as if to refer to parent directories) do not resolve beyond the output directory as designed.\n\n### Patches\n\nThis issue has been resolved in Helm v3.20.2 and v4.1.3\n\nA Chart with an unexpected name (those specified to be \".\" or \"..\"), or a Chart name which results in a non-unique directory will be rejected.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nEnsure the the name of the Chart does not comprise/contain POSIX pathname special directory references ie. dot-dot (\"..\") or dot (\".\"). In addition, ensuring that the `pull --untar` flag (or equivalent SDK option) refers to a unique/empty output directory prevents chart extraction from inadvertently overwriting existing files within the specified directory.\n\n### Credits\n\nOleh Konko\n@1seal",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "helm.sh/helm/v4"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "4.1.4"
} ]
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 4.1.3"
}
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "helm.sh/helm/v3"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "3.20.2"
} ]
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.20.1"
}
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/helm/helm/security/advisories/GHSA-hr2v-4r36-88hr"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35206"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/helm/helm/commit/4e7994d4467182f535b6797c94b5b0e994a91436"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/helm/helm"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/helm/helm/releases/tag/v4.1.4"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-10T15:33:09Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-04-09T21:16:09Z"
}
}