KubeEdge keadm Arbitrary File Write via Path Traversal

KubeEdge keadm contains a path traversal vulnerability in its DecompressTarGz function, which is utilized during the edge node join and installation process. The vulnerability stems from the direct joining of archive entry names with the target destination path without sufficient validation. An attacker capable of providing a malicious .tar.gz archive can leverage path traversal components, Windows-style backslashes, absolute paths, or drive-prefixed paths to write or overwrite files outside the intended destination directory.

This vulnerability (CVE-2026-62369) specifically impacts Windows environments where keadm extracts component archives. Depending on the privileges of the user executing the keadm command, an attacker can modify critical system files, including configuration files, executables, or service-related artifacts. Successful exploitation could lead to persistent system modification or unauthorized code execution. Mitigation requires upgrading to KubeEdge v1.21.2, v1.22.2, or v1.23.1, or ensuring that only trusted KubeEdge component archives are used during installation.

Impact

The vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass directory constraints during archive extraction on Windows hosts. Depending on the targeted file, this can result in privilege escalation, system persistence, or full compromise of the affected edge node. This is particularly critical for administrative users or service accounts running keadm with high-privilege context on Windows edge infrastructure.

Recommendation

• Upgrade KubeEdge to versions 1.21.2, 1.22.2, or 1.23.1 or later to implement secure file path validation in DecompressTarGz.
• Enforce strict supply chain controls by only utilizing official and verified KubeEdge package sources.
• Restrict write permissions and administrative privileges for the service account or user executing the keadm join process.
• Implement integrity verification for all downloaded archives prior to triggering the keadm extraction routines.