Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2026-20613 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Apple Container. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow (T1003.008); ranked at the 19th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2026-20613 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in the ArchiveReader.extractContents() function, which is used by the cctl image load and container image load features. This function lacks pathname validation when extracting archive members, allowing a specially crafted archive to place files into arbitrary user-writable locations on the system via relative pathnames. The vulnerability affects the container and containerization components, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A local attacker can exploit this vulnerability by tricking a user into loading a maliciously constructed archive through cctl or container image load operations. No privileges are required, but user interaction is necessary, and the attack has low complexity. Successful exploitation enables the attacker to overwrite or create files in any user-writable directory, potentially leading to high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, such as disrupting system files or enabling further compromise.
The GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-cq3j-qj2h-6rv3) confirms the issue and states it is addressed in container version 0.8.0 and containerization version 0.21.0, recommending users upgrade to these patched releases for mitigation.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-4539
Vulnerability Data
The ArchiveReader.extractContents() function used by cctl image load and container image load performs no pathname validation before extracting an archive member. This means that a carelessly or maliciously constructed archive can extract a file into any user-writable location on the…
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system using relative pathnames. This issue is addressed in container 0.8.0 and containerization 0.21.0.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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V5.3.2
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Enforces the intended directory access authorizations that path traversal would otherwise bypass.
Input validation directly neutralizes special path elements before pathname construction occurs.
Least privilege reduces the impact of any unauthorized file access obtained via traversal.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Patching/maintenance can remediate known path-traversal flaws in deployed software (partial prevention of exploitability) but does nothing to stop the coding defect from being introduced in the first place.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing in development catches path traversal via static/dynamic analysis.
Secure coding standards explicitly forbid unsafe path construction and mandate safe APIs.