CVE-2026-73851
Description
A flaw was found in Kiota, an OpenAPI based HTTP Client code generator. An attacker who can control or tamper with the OpenAPI description consumed by Kiota can supply a file reference that resolves outside the intended manifest package. This path traversal vulnerability can lead to the inclusion or disclosure of sensitive files from outside the package boundary when the generated manifest is deployed and consumed by an AI host.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated as Important due to the potential for cross-boundary confidentiality impact, allowing unauthorized disclosure of arbitrary local files on the underlying AI host. While Red Hat offerings do not include Kiota in standard installations, systems utilizing this tooling within development or build pipelines are vulnerable if they ingest untrusted API definitions. Exploitation requires user interaction to process an adversary-controlled specification, but the subsequent host file leakage justifies the severity rating.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
The attacker may be able to create or overwrite critical files that are used to execute code, such as programs or libraries.
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Files or Directories
The attacker may be able to overwrite or create critical files, such as programs, libraries, or important data. If the targeted file is used for a security mechanism, then the attacker may be able to bypass that mechanism. For example, appending a new account at the end of a password file may allow an attacker to bypass authentication.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Files or Directories
The attacker may be able to read the contents of unexpected files and expose sensitive data. If the targeted file is used for a security mechanism, then the attacker may be able to bypass that mechanism. For example, by reading a password file, the attacker could conduct brute force password guessing attacks in order to break into an account on the system.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
The attacker may be able to overwrite, delete, or corrupt unexpected critical files such as programs, libraries, or important data. This may prevent the product from working at all and in the case of protection mechanisms such as authentication, it has the potential to lock out product users.
Frequently Asked Questions
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