diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 85485d5d1..a0a1810ad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ Note: Upstart/SysV init based OS types are not supported.
   - [kubernetes](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes) v1.28.3
   - [etcd](https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd) v3.5.9
   - [docker](https://www.docker.com/) v20.10 (see note)
-  - [containerd](https://containerd.io/) v1.7.7
+  - [containerd](https://containerd.io/) v1.7.8
   - [cri-o](http://cri-o.io/) v1.27 (experimental: see [CRI-O Note](docs/cri-o.md). Only on fedora, ubuntu and centos based OS)
 - Network Plugin
   - [cni-plugins](https://github.com/containernetworking/plugins) v1.2.0
diff --git a/roles/download/defaults/main/checksums.yml b/roles/download/defaults/main/checksums.yml
index 4c638d1e4..062e1e62e 100644
--- a/roles/download/defaults/main/checksums.yml
+++ b/roles/download/defaults/main/checksums.yml
@@ -1045,6 +1045,7 @@ nerdctl_archive_checksums:
     1.0.0: 2fb02e629a4be16b194bbfc64819132a72ede1f52596bd8e1ec2beaf7c28c117
 containerd_archive_checksums:
   arm:
+    1.7.8: 0
     1.7.7: 0
     1.7.6: 0
     1.7.5: 0
@@ -1084,6 +1085,7 @@ containerd_archive_checksums:
     1.5.15: 0
     1.5.14: 0
   arm64:
+    1.7.8: 3fc551e8f51150804d80cc1958a271bd2252b6334f0355244d0faa5da7fa55d1
     1.7.7: 0a104f487193665d2681fcb5ed83f2baa5f97849fe2661188da835c9d4eaf9e3
     1.7.6: d844a1c8b993e7e9647f73b9814567004dce1287c0529ce55c50519490eafcce
     1.7.5: 98fc6990820d52d45b56ea2cda808157d4e61bb30ded96887634644c03025fa9
@@ -1123,6 +1125,7 @@ containerd_archive_checksums:
     1.5.15: 0
     1.5.14: 0
   amd64:
+    1.7.8: 5f1d017a5a7359514d6187d6656e88fb2a592d107e6298db7963dbddb9a111d9
     1.7.7: 371de359d6102c51f6ee2361d08297948d134ce7379e01cb965ceeffa4365fba
     1.7.6: 58408cfa025003e671b0af72183b963363d519543d0d0ba186037e9c57489ffe
     1.7.5: 33609ae2d5838bc5798306a1ac30d7f2c6a8cff785ca6253d2be8a8b3ccbab25
@@ -1162,6 +1165,7 @@ containerd_archive_checksums:
     1.5.15: 0d09043be08dcf6bf136aa78bfd719e836cf9f9679afa4db0b6e4d478e396528
     1.5.14: 8513ead11aca164b7e70bcea0429b4e51dad836b6383b806322e128821aaebbd
   ppc64le:
+    1.7.8: 2b563df9e1bddc96a99a023963c99b5faf3066d3fcbc23ff44ba24229e939444
     1.7.7: 0335e7447ed84757489337686a709e95ffa379a8780f238725abb10facaeaa7f
     1.7.6: 956fadb01b35c3214f2b6f82abc0dda3e1b754cb223cd24e818334b08cb09fb2
     1.7.5: 2496e24a95fa74750363a8a7e2ac36acf8d41ee2e4b67a452154ad4c8efbc4bc
diff --git a/roles/download/defaults/main/main.yml b/roles/download/defaults/main/main.yml
index 3469aade0..086827076 100644
--- a/roles/download/defaults/main/main.yml
+++ b/roles/download/defaults/main/main.yml
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ runc_version: v1.1.9
 kata_containers_version: 3.1.3
 youki_version: 0.1.0
 gvisor_version: 20230807
-containerd_version: 1.7.7
+containerd_version: 1.7.8
 cri_dockerd_version: 0.3.4
 
 # this is relevant when container_manager == 'docker'