Description
runc is a CLI tool for spawning and running containers on Linux according to the OCI specification. In runc 1.1.11 and earlier, due to an internal file descriptor leak, an attacker could cause a newly-spawned container process (from runc exec) to have a working directory in the host filesystem namespace, allowing for a container escape by giving access to the host filesystem ("attack 2"). The same attack could be used by a malicious image to allow a container process to gain access to the host filesystem through runc run ("attack 1"). Variants of attacks 1 and 2 could be also be used to overwrite semi-arbitrary host binaries, allowing for complete container escapes ("attack 3a" and "attack 3b"). runc 1.1.12 includes patches for this issue.
Affected products
linuxfoundation: runc; fedoraproject: fedora
References10
- github.com/opencontainers/runc/security/advisories/GHSA-xr7r-f8… ExploitVendor Advisory
- github.com/opencontainers/runc/security/advisories/GHSA-xr7r-f8… ExploitVendor Advisory
- github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/02120488a4c0fc487d1ed2867… Patch
- github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/02120488a4c0fc487d1ed2867… Patch
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/176993/runc-1.1.11-File-Descripto… ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/176993/runc-1.1.11-File-Descripto… ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/01/1 Mailing List
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/02/3 Mailing List
- github.com/opencontainers/runc/releases/tag/v1.1.12 Release Notes
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/02/msg00005.html
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
8.6
HIGH
Score source: NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - EPSS — exploit probability
- 19% percentile: 97 · as of 5 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-403CWE-668CWE-200
Could this be exploited in your environment?
A patch closes the known hole. A penetration test shows what an attacker can still reach — with proof.