Containerd has image-pull DoS via crafted OCI index graph amplification

CISA KEV is observed exploitation evidence. FIRST EPSS is a dated prediction of exploitation in the next 30 days. Missing scores are unknown. This collector requests predictions only for explicit CVE aliases in the public NuGet archive; Microsoft release views retain their existing prediction scope.

No collected risk observation for these identifiers. This does not establish absence of exploitation or a zero probability.

containerd is an open-source container runtime. Prior to versions 1.7.36, 2.0.13, 2.2.9, 2.3.6, and 2.4.1, a crafted OCI index graph can force very high CPU/memory usage during PullImage (before container start), causing long ContainerCreating stalls and, at larger sizes, node/runtime instability. Versions 1.7.36, 2.0.13, 2.2.9, 2.3.6, and 2.4.1 fix the issue.

Source published

25 Sep 2026 00:06:43 UTC

Source modified

28 Sep 2026 14:58:33 UTC

Observed here

23 Oct 2026 15:48:27 UTC

Source terms

CVE Program Terms of Use

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CVSS 4.0 · 6.9 CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

containerd is an open-source container runtime. Prior to versions 1.7.36, 2.0.13, 2.2.9, 2.3.6, and 2.4.1, a crafted OCI index graph can force very high CPU/memory usage during PullImage (before container start), causing long ContainerCreating stalls and, at larger sizes, node/runtime instability. Versions 1.7.36, 2.0.13, 2.2.9, 2.3.6, and 2.4.1 fix the issue.

Source published

Sep 25, 2026, 12:06:43 AM (timezone not stated)

Source modified

Sep 28, 2026, 2:58:33 PM (timezone not stated)

Observed here

11 Nov 2026 13:09:33 UTC

Source terms

ENISA EUVD · source terms and attribution apply

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EUVD CVSS 4.0 · 6.9 CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

containerd is an open-source container runtime. Prior to versions 1.7.36, 2.0.13, 2.2.9, 2.3.6, and 2.4.1, a crafted OCI index graph can force very high CPU/memory usage during PullImage (before container start), causing long ContainerCreating stalls and, at larger sizes, node/runtime instability. Versions 1.7.36, 2.0.13, 2.2.9, 2.3.6, and 2.4.1 fix the issue.

Source published

25 Sep 2026 01:16:48 UTC

Source modified

28 Sep 2026 15:17:17 UTC

Observed here

25 Oct 2026 13:17:16 UTC

Source terms

NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: nvd · NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS 4.0 · [email protected] · Secondary · 6.9 CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

### Impact A vulnerability exists in containerd's image pull handlers where a crafted OCI image index containing deeply nested or heavily fanned-out descriptor graphs can cause unbounded CPU and memory consumption. During the `PullImage` operation, the recursive traversal and processing of child descriptors lack sufficient depth and breadth limits, and fail to adequately deduplicate identical descriptors. This unbounded traversal leads to excessive resource allocation. Consequently, pulling a malicious image reference can result in prolonged stalls during container creation and significant resource pressure on the host system. This issue occurs entirely during the image pull phase, prior to any container execution. ### Patches This bug has been fixed in containerd 2.4.1, 2.3.6, 2.2.9, 2.0.13, and 1.7.36. 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 trusted images from known registries until the patch can be applied. ### Credits The containerd project would like to thank Jakub Ciolek at ElevenLabs and @jlgore who independently discovered and responsibly disclosed this issue in accordance with the [containerd security policy](https://github.com/containerd/project/blob/main/SECURITY.md). ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [containerd](https://github.com/containerd/containerd/issues/new/choose) * Email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) To report a security issue in containerd: * [Report a new vulnerability](https://github.com/containerd/containerd/security/advisories/new) * Email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Source published

25 Sep 2026 19:27:59 UTC

Source modified

1 Oct 2026 20:55:46 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:19:41 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V4 · CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Publisher rating · MODERATE

Containerd has image-pull DoS via crafted OCI index graph amplification in github.com/containerd/containerd

Source published

1 Oct 2026 20:23:38 UTC

Source modified

1 Oct 2026 20:45:17 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:19:41 UTC

Source terms

OSV · upstream source license applies

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · OSV · upstream source license applies. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.