diff --git a/cli/create.go b/cli/create.go
index 77d356a106..0d3cf9952b 100644
--- a/cli/create.go
+++ b/cli/create.go
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func create(ctx context.Context, containerID, bundlePath, console, pidFilePath s
 		return err
 	}
 
-	containerType, err := ociSpec.ContainerType()
+	containerType, err := oci.ContainerType(ociSpec)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/cli/create_test.go b/cli/create_test.go
index 0428c3eaa1..8f6c22bb31 100644
--- a/cli/create_test.go
+++ b/cli/create_test.go
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ func TestCreateInvalidContainerType(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Force an invalid container type
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ func TestCreateContainerInvalid(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ func TestCreateProcessCgroupsPathSuccessful(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Force sandbox-type container
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ func TestCreateCreateCgroupsFilesFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Force sandbox-type container
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ func TestCreateCreateCreatePidFileFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Force sandbox-type container
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ func TestCreate(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Force sandbox-type container
diff --git a/cli/delete_test.go b/cli/delete_test.go
index 77ded07f5e..a04d1ceb82 100644
--- a/cli/delete_test.go
+++ b/cli/delete_test.go
@@ -128,22 +128,20 @@ func TestDeleteInvalidConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(vcmock.IsMockError(err))
 }
 
-func testConfigSetup(t *testing.T) (rootPath string, configPath string) {
+func testConfigSetup(t *testing.T) (rootPath string, bundlePath string) {
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	tmpdir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "")
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
-	bundlePath := filepath.Join(tmpdir, "bundle")
+	bundlePath = filepath.Join(tmpdir, "bundle")
 	err = os.MkdirAll(bundlePath, testDirMode)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	err = createOCIConfig(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
-	// config json path
-	configPath = filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
-	return tmpdir, configPath
+	return tmpdir, bundlePath
 }
 
 func TestDeleteSandbox(t *testing.T) {
@@ -153,9 +151,9 @@ func TestDeleteSandbox(t *testing.T) {
 		MockID: testSandboxID,
 	}
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	path, err := createTempContainerIDMapping(sandbox.ID(), sandbox.ID())
@@ -231,9 +229,9 @@ func TestDeleteInvalidContainerType(t *testing.T) {
 		MockID: testSandboxID,
 	}
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	path, err := createTempContainerIDMapping(sandbox.ID(), sandbox.ID())
@@ -270,9 +268,9 @@ func TestDeleteSandboxRunning(t *testing.T) {
 		MockID: testSandboxID,
 	}
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	path, err := createTempContainerIDMapping(sandbox.ID(), sandbox.ID())
@@ -350,9 +348,9 @@ func TestDeleteRunningContainer(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	path, err := createTempContainerIDMapping(sandbox.MockContainers[0].ID(), sandbox.MockContainers[0].ID())
@@ -433,9 +431,9 @@ func TestDeleteContainer(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	path, err := createTempContainerIDMapping(sandbox.MockContainers[0].ID(), sandbox.MockContainers[0].ID())
@@ -533,9 +531,9 @@ func TestDeleteCLIFunctionSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	path, err := createTempContainerIDMapping(sandbox.ID(), sandbox.ID())
diff --git a/cli/exec.go b/cli/exec.go
index 1c1574ce08..8ed80065ef 100644
--- a/cli/exec.go
+++ b/cli/exec.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 type execParams struct {
-	ociProcess   oci.CompatOCIProcess
+	ociProcess   specs.Process
 	cID          string
 	pidFile      string
 	console      string
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ EXAMPLE:
 	},
 }
 
-func generateExecParams(context *cli.Context, specProcess *oci.CompatOCIProcess) (execParams, error) {
+func generateExecParams(context *cli.Context, specProcess *specs.Process) (execParams, error) {
 	ctxArgs := context.Args()
 
 	params := execParams{
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ func generateExecParams(context *cli.Context, specProcess *oci.CompatOCIProcess)
 	}
 
 	if context.String("process") != "" {
-		var ociProcess oci.CompatOCIProcess
+		var ociProcess specs.Process
 
 		fileContent, err := ioutil.ReadFile(context.String("process"))
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/cli/exec_test.go b/cli/exec_test.go
index a916f66b00..bb2ea35543 100644
--- a/cli/exec_test.go
+++ b/cli/exec_test.go
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
-	vc "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers"
-	vcAnnotations "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/annotations"
-	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/oci"
-	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock"
-	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/types"
+	specs "github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli"
+
+	vc "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers"
+	vcAnnotations "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/annotations"
+	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock"
+	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/types"
 )
 
 func TestExecCLIFunction(t *testing.T) {
@@ -90,9 +91,9 @@ func TestExecuteErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(vcmock.IsMockError(err))
 
 	// Container state undefined
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	annotations = map[string]string{
@@ -149,9 +150,9 @@ func TestExecuteErrorReadingProcessJson(t *testing.T) {
 	flagSet.Parse([]string{testContainerID})
 	ctx := createCLIContext(flagSet)
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	annotations := map[string]string{
@@ -198,9 +199,9 @@ func TestExecuteErrorOpeningConsole(t *testing.T) {
 	flagSet.Parse([]string{testContainerID})
 	ctx := createCLIContext(flagSet)
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	annotations := map[string]string{
@@ -265,9 +266,9 @@ func TestExecuteWithFlags(t *testing.T) {
 	flagSet.Parse([]string{testContainerID, "/tmp/foo"})
 	ctx := createCLIContext(flagSet)
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	annotations := map[string]string{
@@ -355,9 +356,9 @@ func TestExecuteWithFlagsDetached(t *testing.T) {
 	flagSet.Parse([]string{testContainerID, "/tmp/foo"})
 	ctx := createCLIContext(flagSet)
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	annotations := map[string]string{
@@ -434,9 +435,9 @@ func TestExecuteWithInvalidProcessJson(t *testing.T) {
 	flagSet.Parse([]string{testContainerID})
 	ctx := createCLIContext(flagSet)
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	annotations := map[string]string{
@@ -486,9 +487,9 @@ func TestExecuteWithValidProcessJson(t *testing.T) {
 	flagSet.Parse([]string{testContainerID, "/tmp/foo"})
 	ctx := createCLIContext(flagSet)
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	annotations := map[string]string{
@@ -587,9 +588,9 @@ func TestExecuteWithEmptyEnvironmentValue(t *testing.T) {
 	flagSet.Parse([]string{testContainerID})
 	ctx := createCLIContext(flagSet)
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	annotations := map[string]string{
@@ -698,7 +699,7 @@ func TestGenerateExecParams(t *testing.T) {
 	flagSet.String("apparmor", apparmor, "")
 
 	ctx := createCLIContext(flagSet)
-	process := &oci.CompatOCIProcess{}
+	process := &specs.Process{}
 	params, err := generateExecParams(ctx, process)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
@@ -771,7 +772,7 @@ func TestGenerateExecParamsWithProcessJsonFile(t *testing.T) {
 
 	defer os.Remove(processPath)
 
-	process := &oci.CompatOCIProcess{}
+	process := &specs.Process{}
 	params, err := generateExecParams(ctx, process)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
diff --git a/cli/main_test.go b/cli/main_test.go
index 2515ce375d..705722c24b 100644
--- a/cli/main_test.go
+++ b/cli/main_test.go
@@ -150,10 +150,9 @@ func runUnitTests(m *testing.M) {
 	os.Exit(ret)
 }
 
-// Read fail that should contain a CompatOCISpec and
+// Read fail that should contain a specs.Spec and
 // return its JSON representation on success
-func readOCIConfigJSON(configFile string) (string, error) {
-	bundlePath := filepath.Dir(configFile)
+func readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath string) (string, error) {
 	ociSpec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", nil
@@ -400,30 +399,7 @@ func makeOCIBundle(bundleDir string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// readOCIConfig returns an OCI spec.
-func readOCIConfigFile(configPath string) (oci.CompatOCISpec, error) {
-	if configPath == "" {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, errors.New("BUG: need config file path")
-	}
-
-	data, err := ioutil.ReadFile(configPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, err
-	}
-
-	var ociSpec oci.CompatOCISpec
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ociSpec); err != nil {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, err
-	}
-	caps, err := oci.ContainerCapabilities(ociSpec)
-	if err != nil {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, err
-	}
-	ociSpec.Process.Capabilities = caps
-	return ociSpec, nil
-}
-
-func writeOCIConfigFile(spec oci.CompatOCISpec, configPath string) error {
+func writeOCIConfigFile(spec specs.Spec, configPath string) error {
 	if configPath == "" {
 		return errors.New("BUG: need config file path")
 	}
diff --git a/cli/run_test.go b/cli/run_test.go
index 4f9640bc84..ef683fb2fd 100644
--- a/cli/run_test.go
+++ b/cli/run_test.go
@@ -188,9 +188,6 @@ func testRunContainerSetup(t *testing.T) runContainerData {
 	err = makeOCIBundle(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
-	// config json path
-	configPath := filepath.Join(bundlePath, specConfig)
-
 	// sandbox id and container id must be the same otherwise delete will not works
 	sandbox := &vcmock.Sandbox{
 		MockID: testContainerID,
@@ -208,7 +205,7 @@ func testRunContainerSetup(t *testing.T) runContainerData {
 	runtimeConfig, err := newTestRuntimeConfig(tmpdir, consolePath, true)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
-	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	configJSON, err := readOCIConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	return runContainerData{
diff --git a/cli/start_test.go b/cli/start_test.go
index 6c4c043800..28005a2fb1 100644
--- a/cli/start_test.go
+++ b/cli/start_test.go
@@ -13,13 +13,14 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/urfave/cli"
+
 	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/pkg/katautils"
 	vc "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers"
 	vcAnnotations "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/annotations"
-	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/oci"
 	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/urfave/cli"
 )
 
 func TestStartInvalidArgs(t *testing.T) {
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ func TestStartSandbox(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(path)
 
-	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(oci.CompatOCISpec{})
+	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(specs.Spec{})
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	testingImpl.StatusContainerFunc = func(ctx context.Context, sandboxID, containerID string) (vc.ContainerStatus, error) {
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ func TestStartContainerSucessFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(path)
 
-	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(oci.CompatOCISpec{})
+	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(specs.Spec{})
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	testingImpl.StatusContainerFunc = func(ctx context.Context, sandboxID, containerID string) (vc.ContainerStatus, error) {
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@ func TestStartCLIFunctionSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(path)
 
-	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(oci.CompatOCISpec{})
+	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(specs.Spec{})
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	testingImpl.StatusContainerFunc = func(ctx context.Context, sandboxID, containerID string) (vc.ContainerStatus, error) {
diff --git a/containerd-shim-v2/container.go b/containerd-shim-v2/container.go
index 9dffa2cfcf..bcf89c524d 100644
--- a/containerd-shim-v2/container.go
+++ b/containerd-shim-v2/container.go
@@ -11,15 +11,15 @@ import (
 	"github.com/containerd/containerd/api/types/task"
 	"github.com/containerd/containerd/errdefs"
 	taskAPI "github.com/containerd/containerd/runtime/v2/task"
+	"github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
 
 	vc "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers"
-	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/oci"
 )
 
 type container struct {
 	s        *service
 	ttyio    *ttyIO
-	spec     *oci.CompatOCISpec
+	spec     *specs.Spec
 	exitTime time.Time
 	execs    map[string]*exec
 	exitIOch chan struct{}
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ type container struct {
 	terminal bool
 }
 
-func newContainer(s *service, r *taskAPI.CreateTaskRequest, containerType vc.ContainerType, spec *oci.CompatOCISpec) (*container, error) {
+func newContainer(s *service, r *taskAPI.CreateTaskRequest, containerType vc.ContainerType, spec *specs.Spec) (*container, error) {
 	if r == nil {
 		return nil, errdefs.ToGRPCf(errdefs.ErrInvalidArgument, " CreateTaskRequest points to nil")
 	}
 
 	// in order to avoid deferencing a nil pointer in test
 	if spec == nil {
-		spec = &oci.CompatOCISpec{}
+		spec = &specs.Spec{}
 	}
 
 	c := &container{
diff --git a/containerd-shim-v2/create.go b/containerd-shim-v2/create.go
index 418c4108f4..04b0cd50ca 100644
--- a/containerd-shim-v2/create.go
+++ b/containerd-shim-v2/create.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func create(ctx context.Context, s *service, r *taskAPI.CreateTaskRequest) (*con
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	containerType, err := ociSpec.ContainerType()
+	containerType, err := oci.ContainerType(*ociSpec)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func create(ctx context.Context, s *service, r *taskAPI.CreateTaskRequest) (*con
 	return container, nil
 }
 
-func loadSpec(r *taskAPI.CreateTaskRequest) (*oci.CompatOCISpec, string, error) {
+func loadSpec(r *taskAPI.CreateTaskRequest) (*specs.Spec, string, error) {
 	// Checks the MUST and MUST NOT from OCI runtime specification
 	bundlePath, err := validBundle(r.ID, r.Bundle)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/containerd-shim-v2/create_test.go b/containerd-shim-v2/create_test.go
index eb5b67ad3c..88b0b948fa 100644
--- a/containerd-shim-v2/create_test.go
+++ b/containerd-shim-v2/create_test.go
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/containerd/containerd/namespaces"
 	taskAPI "github.com/containerd/containerd/runtime/v2/task"
-
-	vc "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers"
-	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock"
+	specs "github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 
 	ktu "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/pkg/katatestutils"
 	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/pkg/katautils"
-	specs "github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	vc "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers"
+	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/oci"
+	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock"
 )
 
 func TestCreateSandboxSuccess(t *testing.T) {
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func TestCreateSandboxSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Force sandbox-type container
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func TestCreateSandboxFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	err = writeOCIConfigFile(spec, ociConfigFile)
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func TestCreateSandboxConfigFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	quota := int64(0)
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ func TestCreateContainerSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// set expected container type and sandboxID
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ func TestCreateContainerFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	spec.Annotations = make(map[string]string)
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ func TestCreateContainerConfigFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(katautils.FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// set the error containerType
diff --git a/containerd-shim-v2/delete_test.go b/containerd-shim-v2/delete_test.go
index 995e3d84ee..3bc4dfb7d6 100644
--- a/containerd-shim-v2/delete_test.go
+++ b/containerd-shim-v2/delete_test.go
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	taskAPI "github.com/containerd/containerd/runtime/v2/task"
-	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+
+	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/oci"
+	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock"
 )
 
 func TestDeleteContainerSuccessAndFail(t *testing.T) {
@@ -24,9 +26,9 @@ func TestDeleteContainerSuccessAndFail(t *testing.T) {
 		MockID: testSandboxID,
 	}
 
-	rootPath, configPath := testConfigSetup(t)
+	rootPath, bundlePath := testConfigSetup(t)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(rootPath)
-	_, err := readOCIConfigJSON(configPath)
+	_, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	s := &service{
@@ -42,20 +44,18 @@ func TestDeleteContainerSuccessAndFail(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(err)
 }
 
-func testConfigSetup(t *testing.T) (rootPath string, configPath string) {
+func testConfigSetup(t *testing.T) (rootPath string, bundlePath string) {
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	tmpdir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "")
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
-	bundlePath := filepath.Join(tmpdir, "bundle")
+	bundlePath = filepath.Join(tmpdir, "bundle")
 	err = os.MkdirAll(bundlePath, testDirMode)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	err = createOCIConfig(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
-	// config json path
-	configPath = filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
-	return tmpdir, configPath
+	return tmpdir, bundlePath
 }
diff --git a/containerd-shim-v2/service.go b/containerd-shim-v2/service.go
index 42f317816c..a46fe8c2b1 100644
--- a/containerd-shim-v2/service.go
+++ b/containerd-shim-v2/service.go
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ func (s *service) Cleanup(ctx context.Context) (_ *taskAPI.DeleteResponse, err e
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	containerType, err := ociSpec.ContainerType()
+	containerType, err := oci.ContainerType(ociSpec)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ func (s *service) Cleanup(ctx context.Context) (_ *taskAPI.DeleteResponse, err e
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	case vc.PodContainer:
-		sandboxID, err := ociSpec.SandboxID()
+		sandboxID, err := oci.SandboxID(ociSpec)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/containerd-shim-v2/utils.go b/containerd-shim-v2/utils.go
index 7580e2c0e9..eee923595a 100644
--- a/containerd-shim-v2/utils.go
+++ b/containerd-shim-v2/utils.go
@@ -92,13 +92,13 @@ func getAddress(ctx context.Context, bundlePath, id string) (string, error) {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	containerType, err := ociSpec.ContainerType()
+	containerType, err := oci.ContainerType(ociSpec)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
 	if containerType == vc.PodContainer {
-		sandboxID, err := ociSpec.SandboxID()
+		sandboxID, err := oci.SandboxID(ociSpec)
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", err
 		}
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func noNeedForOutput(detach bool, tty bool) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func removeNamespace(s *oci.CompatOCISpec, nsType specs.LinuxNamespaceType) {
+func removeNamespace(s *specs.Spec, nsType specs.LinuxNamespaceType) {
 	for i, n := range s.Linux.Namespaces {
 		if n.Type == nsType {
 			s.Linux.Namespaces = append(s.Linux.Namespaces[:i], s.Linux.Namespaces[i+1:]...)
diff --git a/containerd-shim-v2/utils_test.go b/containerd-shim-v2/utils_test.go
index 5a636b893a..2470547f33 100644
--- a/containerd-shim-v2/utils_test.go
+++ b/containerd-shim-v2/utils_test.go
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
+
 	ktu "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/pkg/katatestutils"
 	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/pkg/katautils"
 	vc "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers"
@@ -213,29 +215,6 @@ func newTestRuntimeConfig(dir, consolePath string, create bool) (oci.RuntimeConf
 	}, nil
 }
 
-// readOCIConfig returns an OCI spec.
-func readOCIConfigFile(configPath string) (oci.CompatOCISpec, error) {
-	if configPath == "" {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, errors.New("BUG: need config file path")
-	}
-
-	data, err := ioutil.ReadFile(configPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, err
-	}
-
-	var ociSpec oci.CompatOCISpec
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ociSpec); err != nil {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, err
-	}
-	caps, err := oci.ContainerCapabilities(ociSpec)
-	if err != nil {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, err
-	}
-	ociSpec.Process.Capabilities = caps
-	return ociSpec, nil
-}
-
 // realMakeOCIBundle will create an OCI bundle (including the "config.json"
 // config file) in the directory specified (which must already exist).
 //
@@ -336,7 +315,7 @@ func createRootfs(dir string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func writeOCIConfigFile(spec oci.CompatOCISpec, configPath string) error {
+func writeOCIConfigFile(spec specs.Spec, configPath string) error {
 	if configPath == "" {
 		return errors.New("BUG: need config file path")
 	}
@@ -348,18 +327,3 @@ func writeOCIConfigFile(spec oci.CompatOCISpec, configPath string) error {
 
 	return ioutil.WriteFile(configPath, bytes, testFileMode)
 }
-
-// Read fail that should contain a CompatOCISpec and
-// return its JSON representation on success
-func readOCIConfigJSON(configFile string) (string, error) {
-	bundlePath := filepath.Dir(configFile)
-	ociSpec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", nil
-	}
-	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(ociSpec)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	return string(ociSpecJSON), err
-}
diff --git a/pkg/katautils/create.go b/pkg/katautils/create.go
index aa4a0747e1..facf273246 100644
--- a/pkg/katautils/create.go
+++ b/pkg/katautils/create.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	vc "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers"
 	vf "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/factory"
 	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/oci"
+	specs "github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
 )
 
 // GetKernelParamsFunc use a variable to allow tests to modify its value
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ func HandleFactory(ctx context.Context, vci vc.VC, runtimeConfig *oci.RuntimeCon
 // For the given pod ephemeral volume is created only once
 // backed by tmpfs inside the VM. For successive containers
 // of the same pod the already existing volume is reused.
-func SetEphemeralStorageType(ociSpec oci.CompatOCISpec) oci.CompatOCISpec {
+func SetEphemeralStorageType(ociSpec specs.Spec) specs.Spec {
 	for idx, mnt := range ociSpec.Mounts {
 		if vc.IsEphemeralStorage(mnt.Source) {
 			ociSpec.Mounts[idx].Type = vc.KataEphemeralDevType
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ func SetEphemeralStorageType(ociSpec oci.CompatOCISpec) oci.CompatOCISpec {
 }
 
 // CreateSandbox create a sandbox container
-func CreateSandbox(ctx context.Context, vci vc.VC, ociSpec oci.CompatOCISpec, runtimeConfig oci.RuntimeConfig, rootFs vc.RootFs,
+func CreateSandbox(ctx context.Context, vci vc.VC, ociSpec specs.Spec, runtimeConfig oci.RuntimeConfig, rootFs vc.RootFs,
 	containerID, bundlePath, console string, disableOutput, systemdCgroup, builtIn bool) (_ vc.VCSandbox, _ vc.Process, err error) {
 	span, ctx := Trace(ctx, "createSandbox")
 	defer span.Finish()
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ func CreateSandbox(ctx context.Context, vci vc.VC, ociSpec oci.CompatOCISpec, ru
 }
 
 // CreateContainer create a container
-func CreateContainer(ctx context.Context, vci vc.VC, sandbox vc.VCSandbox, ociSpec oci.CompatOCISpec, rootFs vc.RootFs, containerID, bundlePath, console string, disableOutput, builtIn bool) (vc.Process, error) {
+func CreateContainer(ctx context.Context, vci vc.VC, sandbox vc.VCSandbox, ociSpec specs.Spec, rootFs vc.RootFs, containerID, bundlePath, console string, disableOutput, builtIn bool) (vc.Process, error) {
 	var c vc.VCContainer
 
 	span, ctx := Trace(ctx, "createContainer")
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ func CreateContainer(ctx context.Context, vci vc.VC, sandbox vc.VCSandbox, ociSp
 		contConfig.RootFs = rootFs
 	}
 
-	sandboxID, err := ociSpec.SandboxID()
+	sandboxID, err := oci.SandboxID(ociSpec)
 	if err != nil {
 		return vc.Process{}, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/katautils/create_test.go b/pkg/katautils/create_test.go
index 8fc9283343..5170927d17 100644
--- a/pkg/katautils/create_test.go
+++ b/pkg/katautils/create_test.go
@@ -47,30 +47,7 @@ func init() {
 	tc = ktu.NewTestConstraint(false)
 }
 
-// readOCIConfig returns an OCI spec.
-func readOCIConfigFile(configPath string) (oci.CompatOCISpec, error) {
-	if configPath == "" {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, errors.New("BUG: need config file path")
-	}
-
-	data, err := ioutil.ReadFile(configPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, err
-	}
-
-	var ociSpec oci.CompatOCISpec
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ociSpec); err != nil {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, err
-	}
-	caps, err := oci.ContainerCapabilities(ociSpec)
-	if err != nil {
-		return oci.CompatOCISpec{}, err
-	}
-	ociSpec.Process.Capabilities = caps
-	return ociSpec, nil
-}
-
-func writeOCIConfigFile(spec oci.CompatOCISpec, configPath string) error {
+func writeOCIConfigFile(spec specs.Spec, configPath string) error {
 	if configPath == "" {
 		return errors.New("BUG: need config file path")
 	}
@@ -205,7 +182,7 @@ func TestSetEphemeralStorageType(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Nil(err)
 	defer syscall.Unmount(ephePath, 0)
 
-	ociSpec := oci.CompatOCISpec{}
+	ociSpec := specs.Spec{}
 	var ociMounts []specs.Mount
 	mount := specs.Mount{
 		Source: ephePath,
@@ -298,7 +275,7 @@ func TestCreateSandboxConfigFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	quota := int64(0)
@@ -346,7 +323,7 @@ func TestCreateSandboxFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	rootFs := vc.RootFs{Mounted: true}
@@ -376,7 +353,7 @@ func TestCreateContainerContainerConfigFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Set invalid container type
@@ -419,7 +396,7 @@ func TestCreateContainerFail(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// set expected container type and sandboxID
@@ -469,7 +446,7 @@ func TestCreateContainer(t *testing.T) {
 	ociConfigFile := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "config.json")
 	assert.True(FileExists(ociConfigFile))
 
-	spec, err := readOCIConfigFile(ociConfigFile)
+	spec, err := oci.ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// set expected container type and sandboxID
diff --git a/pkg/katautils/hook.go b/pkg/katautils/hook.go
index c73ac2ab62..0f20a95ba5 100644
--- a/pkg/katautils/hook.go
+++ b/pkg/katautils/hook.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/oci"
 	"github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
 	"github.com/opentracing/opentracing-go/log"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
@@ -111,7 +110,7 @@ func runHooks(ctx context.Context, hooks []specs.Hook, cid, bundlePath, hookType
 }
 
 // PreStartHooks run the hooks before start container
-func PreStartHooks(ctx context.Context, spec oci.CompatOCISpec, cid, bundlePath string) error {
+func PreStartHooks(ctx context.Context, spec specs.Spec, cid, bundlePath string) error {
 	// If no hook available, nothing needs to be done.
 	if spec.Hooks == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -121,7 +120,7 @@ func PreStartHooks(ctx context.Context, spec oci.CompatOCISpec, cid, bundlePath
 }
 
 // PostStartHooks run the hooks just after start container
-func PostStartHooks(ctx context.Context, spec oci.CompatOCISpec, cid, bundlePath string) error {
+func PostStartHooks(ctx context.Context, spec specs.Spec, cid, bundlePath string) error {
 	// If no hook available, nothing needs to be done.
 	if spec.Hooks == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -131,7 +130,7 @@ func PostStartHooks(ctx context.Context, spec oci.CompatOCISpec, cid, bundlePath
 }
 
 // PostStopHooks run the hooks after stop container
-func PostStopHooks(ctx context.Context, spec oci.CompatOCISpec, cid, bundlePath string) error {
+func PostStopHooks(ctx context.Context, spec specs.Spec, cid, bundlePath string) error {
 	// If no hook available, nothing needs to be done.
 	if spec.Hooks == nil {
 		return nil
diff --git a/pkg/katautils/hook_test.go b/pkg/katautils/hook_test.go
index 83dc655859..4cc0b62270 100644
--- a/pkg/katautils/hook_test.go
+++ b/pkg/katautils/hook_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 
 	ktu "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/pkg/katatestutils"
 	. "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/mock"
-	"github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/oci"
 	"github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
@@ -96,26 +95,22 @@ func TestPreStartHooks(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	// Hooks field is nil
-	spec := oci.CompatOCISpec{}
+	spec := specs.Spec{}
 	err := PreStartHooks(ctx, spec, "", "")
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Hooks list is empty
-	spec = oci.CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: specs.Spec{
-			Hooks: &specs.Hooks{},
-		},
+	spec = specs.Spec{
+		Hooks: &specs.Hooks{},
 	}
 	err = PreStartHooks(ctx, spec, "", "")
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Run with timeout 0
 	hook := createHook(0)
-	spec = oci.CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: specs.Spec{
-			Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
-				Prestart: []specs.Hook{hook},
-			},
+	spec = specs.Spec{
+		Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
+			Prestart: []specs.Hook{hook},
 		},
 	}
 	err = PreStartHooks(ctx, spec, testSandboxID, testBundlePath)
@@ -123,11 +118,9 @@ func TestPreStartHooks(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Failure due to wrong hook
 	hook = createWrongHook()
-	spec = oci.CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: specs.Spec{
-			Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
-				Prestart: []specs.Hook{hook},
-			},
+	spec = specs.Spec{
+		Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
+			Prestart: []specs.Hook{hook},
 		},
 	}
 	err = PreStartHooks(ctx, spec, testSandboxID, testBundlePath)
@@ -144,26 +137,22 @@ func TestPostStartHooks(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	// Hooks field is nil
-	spec := oci.CompatOCISpec{}
+	spec := specs.Spec{}
 	err := PostStartHooks(ctx, spec, "", "")
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Hooks list is empty
-	spec = oci.CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: specs.Spec{
-			Hooks: &specs.Hooks{},
-		},
+	spec = specs.Spec{
+		Hooks: &specs.Hooks{},
 	}
 	err = PostStartHooks(ctx, spec, "", "")
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Run with timeout 0
 	hook := createHook(0)
-	spec = oci.CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: specs.Spec{
-			Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
-				Poststart: []specs.Hook{hook},
-			},
+	spec = specs.Spec{
+		Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
+			Poststart: []specs.Hook{hook},
 		},
 	}
 	err = PostStartHooks(ctx, spec, testSandboxID, testBundlePath)
@@ -171,11 +160,9 @@ func TestPostStartHooks(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Failure due to wrong hook
 	hook = createWrongHook()
-	spec = oci.CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: specs.Spec{
-			Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
-				Poststart: []specs.Hook{hook},
-			},
+	spec = specs.Spec{
+		Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
+			Poststart: []specs.Hook{hook},
 		},
 	}
 	err = PostStartHooks(ctx, spec, testSandboxID, testBundlePath)
@@ -192,26 +179,22 @@ func TestPostStopHooks(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	// Hooks field is nil
-	spec := oci.CompatOCISpec{}
+	spec := specs.Spec{}
 	err := PostStopHooks(ctx, spec, "", "")
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Hooks list is empty
-	spec = oci.CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: specs.Spec{
-			Hooks: &specs.Hooks{},
-		},
+	spec = specs.Spec{
+		Hooks: &specs.Hooks{},
 	}
 	err = PostStopHooks(ctx, spec, "", "")
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	// Run with timeout 0
 	hook := createHook(0)
-	spec = oci.CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: specs.Spec{
-			Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
-				Poststop: []specs.Hook{hook},
-			},
+	spec = specs.Spec{
+		Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
+			Poststop: []specs.Hook{hook},
 		},
 	}
 	err = PostStopHooks(ctx, spec, testSandboxID, testBundlePath)
@@ -219,11 +202,9 @@ func TestPostStopHooks(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Failure due to wrong hook
 	hook = createWrongHook()
-	spec = oci.CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: specs.Spec{
-			Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
-				Poststop: []specs.Hook{hook},
-			},
+	spec = specs.Spec{
+		Hooks: &specs.Hooks{
+			Poststop: []specs.Hook{hook},
 		},
 	}
 	err = PostStopHooks(ctx, spec, testSandboxID, testBundlePath)
diff --git a/virtcontainers/pkg/oci/utils.go b/virtcontainers/pkg/oci/utils.go
index e1e25c3b19..c4f26c8dea 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/pkg/oci/utils.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/pkg/oci/utils.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import (
 
 	criContainerdAnnotations "github.com/containerd/cri-containerd/pkg/annotations"
 	crioAnnotations "github.com/cri-o/cri-o/pkg/annotations"
-	spec "github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
+	specs "github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 
 	vc "github.com/kata-containers/runtime/virtcontainers"
@@ -75,24 +75,24 @@ const (
 
 const KernelModulesSeparator = ";"
 
-// CompatOCIProcess is a structure inheriting from spec.Process defined
+// compatOCIProcess is a structure inheriting from specs.Process defined
 // in runtime-spec/specs-go package. The goal is to be compatible with
 // both v1.0.0-rc4 and v1.0.0-rc5 since the latter introduced a change
 // about the type of the Capabilities field.
 // Refer to: https://github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/commit/37391fb
-type CompatOCIProcess struct {
-	spec.Process
+type compatOCIProcess struct {
+	specs.Process
 	Capabilities interface{} `json:"capabilities,omitempty" platform:"linux"` //nolint:govet
 }
 
-// CompatOCISpec is a structure inheriting from spec.Spec defined
+// compatOCISpec is a structure inheriting from specs.Spec defined
 // in runtime-spec/specs-go package. It relies on the CompatOCIProcess
 // structure declared above, in order to be compatible with both
 // v1.0.0-rc4 and v1.0.0-rc5.
 // Refer to: https://github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/commit/37391fb
-type CompatOCISpec struct {
-	spec.Spec
-	Process *CompatOCIProcess `json:"process,omitempty"` //nolint:govet
+type compatOCISpec struct {
+	specs.Spec
+	Process *compatOCIProcess `json:"process,omitempty"` //nolint:govet
 }
 
 // FactoryConfig is a structure to set the VM factory configuration.
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ func SetLogger(ctx context.Context, logger *logrus.Entry) {
 	ociLog = logger.WithFields(fields)
 }
 
-func cmdEnvs(spec CompatOCISpec, envs []types.EnvVar) []types.EnvVar {
+func cmdEnvs(spec specs.Spec, envs []types.EnvVar) []types.EnvVar {
 	for _, env := range spec.Process.Env {
 		kv := strings.Split(env, "=")
 		if len(kv) < 2 {
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func cmdEnvs(spec CompatOCISpec, envs []types.EnvVar) []types.EnvVar {
 	return envs
 }
 
-func newMount(m spec.Mount) vc.Mount {
+func newMount(m specs.Mount) vc.Mount {
 	return vc.Mount{
 		Source:      m.Source,
 		Destination: m.Destination,
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ func newMount(m spec.Mount) vc.Mount {
 	}
 }
 
-func containerMounts(spec CompatOCISpec) []vc.Mount {
-	ociMounts := spec.Spec.Mounts
+func containerMounts(spec specs.Spec) []vc.Mount {
+	ociMounts := spec.Mounts
 
 	if ociMounts == nil {
 		return []vc.Mount{}
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ func contains(s []string, e string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func newLinuxDeviceInfo(d spec.LinuxDevice) (*config.DeviceInfo, error) {
+func newLinuxDeviceInfo(d specs.LinuxDevice) (*config.DeviceInfo, error) {
 	allowedDeviceTypes := []string{"c", "b", "u", "p"}
 
 	if !contains(allowedDeviceTypes, d.Type) {
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ func newLinuxDeviceInfo(d spec.LinuxDevice) (*config.DeviceInfo, error) {
 	return &deviceInfo, nil
 }
 
-func containerDeviceInfos(spec CompatOCISpec) ([]config.DeviceInfo, error) {
-	ociLinuxDevices := spec.Spec.Linux.Devices
+func containerDeviceInfos(spec specs.Spec) ([]config.DeviceInfo, error) {
+	ociLinuxDevices := spec.Linux.Devices
 
 	if ociLinuxDevices == nil {
 		return []config.DeviceInfo{}, nil
@@ -264,9 +264,14 @@ func containerDeviceInfos(spec CompatOCISpec) ([]config.DeviceInfo, error) {
 	return devices, nil
 }
 
-func containerCapabilities(s CompatOCISpec) (types.LinuxCapabilities, error) {
+// containerCapabilities return a LinuxCapabilities for virtcontainer
+func containerCapabilities(s compatOCISpec) (specs.LinuxCapabilities, error) {
+	if s.Process == nil {
+		return specs.LinuxCapabilities{}, fmt.Errorf("containerCapabilities, Process is nil")
+	}
+
 	capabilities := s.Process.Capabilities
-	var c types.LinuxCapabilities
+	var c specs.LinuxCapabilities
 
 	// In spec v1.0.0-rc4, capabilities was a list of strings. This was changed
 	// to an object with v1.0.0-rc5.
@@ -305,7 +310,7 @@ func containerCapabilities(s CompatOCISpec) (types.LinuxCapabilities, error) {
 			list = append(list, str.(string))
 		}
 
-		c = types.LinuxCapabilities{
+		c = specs.LinuxCapabilities{
 			Bounding:    list,
 			Effective:   list,
 			Inheritable: list,
@@ -322,15 +327,7 @@ func containerCapabilities(s CompatOCISpec) (types.LinuxCapabilities, error) {
 	return c, nil
 }
 
-// ContainerCapabilities return a LinuxCapabilities for virtcontainer
-func ContainerCapabilities(s CompatOCISpec) (types.LinuxCapabilities, error) {
-	if s.Process == nil {
-		return types.LinuxCapabilities{}, fmt.Errorf("ContainerCapabilities, Process is nil")
-	}
-	return containerCapabilities(s)
-}
-
-func networkConfig(ocispec CompatOCISpec, config RuntimeConfig) (vc.NetworkConfig, error) {
+func networkConfig(ocispec specs.Spec, config RuntimeConfig) (vc.NetworkConfig, error) {
 	linux := ocispec.Linux
 	if linux == nil {
 		return vc.NetworkConfig{}, ErrNoLinux
@@ -339,7 +336,7 @@ func networkConfig(ocispec CompatOCISpec, config RuntimeConfig) (vc.NetworkConfi
 	var netConf vc.NetworkConfig
 
 	for _, n := range linux.Namespaces {
-		if n.Type != spec.NetworkNamespace {
+		if n.Type != specs.NetworkNamespace {
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -366,26 +363,29 @@ func getConfigPath(bundlePath string) string {
 }
 
 // ParseConfigJSON unmarshals the config.json file.
-func ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath string) (CompatOCISpec, error) {
+func ParseConfigJSON(bundlePath string) (specs.Spec, error) {
 	configPath := getConfigPath(bundlePath)
 	ociLog.Debugf("converting %s", configPath)
 
 	configByte, err := ioutil.ReadFile(configPath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return CompatOCISpec{}, err
+		return specs.Spec{}, err
 	}
 
-	var ocispec CompatOCISpec
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(configByte, &ocispec); err != nil {
-		return CompatOCISpec{}, err
+	var compSpec compatOCISpec
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(configByte, &compSpec); err != nil {
+		return specs.Spec{}, err
 	}
-	caps, err := ContainerCapabilities(ocispec)
+
+	caps, err := containerCapabilities(compSpec)
 	if err != nil {
-		return CompatOCISpec{}, err
+		return specs.Spec{}, err
 	}
-	ocispec.Process.Capabilities = caps
 
-	return ocispec, nil
+	compSpec.Spec.Process = &compSpec.Process.Process
+	compSpec.Spec.Process.Capabilities = &caps
+
+	return compSpec.Spec, nil
 }
 
 // GetContainerType determines which type of container matches the annotations
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ func GetContainerType(annotations map[string]string) (vc.ContainerType, error) {
 
 // ContainerType returns the type of container and if the container type was
 // found from CRI servers annotations.
-func (spec *CompatOCISpec) ContainerType() (vc.ContainerType, error) {
+func ContainerType(spec specs.Spec) (vc.ContainerType, error) {
 	for _, key := range CRIContainerTypeKeyList {
 		containerTypeVal, ok := spec.Annotations[key]
 		if !ok {
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ func (spec *CompatOCISpec) ContainerType() (vc.ContainerType, error) {
 
 // SandboxID determines the sandbox ID related to an OCI configuration. This function
 // is expected to be called only when the container type is "PodContainer".
-func (spec *CompatOCISpec) SandboxID() (string, error) {
+func SandboxID(spec specs.Spec) (string, error) {
 	for _, key := range CRISandboxNameKeyList {
 		sandboxID, ok := spec.Annotations[key]
 		if ok {
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ func (spec *CompatOCISpec) SandboxID() (string, error) {
 	return "", fmt.Errorf("Could not find sandbox ID")
 }
 
-func addAssetAnnotations(ocispec CompatOCISpec, config *vc.SandboxConfig) {
+func addAssetAnnotations(ocispec specs.Spec, config *vc.SandboxConfig) {
 	assetAnnotations := []string{
 		vcAnnotations.KernelPath,
 		vcAnnotations.ImagePath,
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ func addAssetAnnotations(ocispec CompatOCISpec, config *vc.SandboxConfig) {
 
 // SandboxConfig converts an OCI compatible runtime configuration file
 // to a virtcontainers sandbox configuration structure.
-func SandboxConfig(ocispec CompatOCISpec, runtime RuntimeConfig, bundlePath, cid, console string, detach, systemdCgroup bool) (vc.SandboxConfig, error) {
+func SandboxConfig(ocispec specs.Spec, runtime RuntimeConfig, bundlePath, cid, console string, detach, systemdCgroup bool) (vc.SandboxConfig, error) {
 	containerConfig, err := ContainerConfig(ocispec, bundlePath, cid, console, detach)
 	if err != nil {
 		return vc.SandboxConfig{}, err
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ func SandboxConfig(ocispec CompatOCISpec, runtime RuntimeConfig, bundlePath, cid
 
 // ContainerConfig converts an OCI compatible runtime configuration
 // file to a virtcontainers container configuration structure.
-func ContainerConfig(ocispec CompatOCISpec, bundlePath, cid, console string, detach bool) (vc.ContainerConfig, error) {
+func ContainerConfig(ocispec specs.Spec, bundlePath, cid, console string, detach bool) (vc.ContainerConfig, error) {
 	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(ocispec)
 	if err != nil {
 		return vc.ContainerConfig{}, err
@@ -564,17 +564,13 @@ func ContainerConfig(ocispec CompatOCISpec, bundlePath, cid, console string, det
 	}
 
 	if ocispec.Process != nil {
-		caps, ok := ocispec.Process.Capabilities.(types.LinuxCapabilities)
-		if !ok {
-			return vc.ContainerConfig{}, fmt.Errorf("Unexpected format for capabilities: %v", ocispec.Process.Capabilities)
-		}
-		cmd.Capabilities = caps
+		cmd.Capabilities = ocispec.Process.Capabilities
 	}
 
 	containerConfig := vc.ContainerConfig{
 		ID:             cid,
 		RootFs:         rootfs,
-		ReadonlyRootfs: ocispec.Spec.Root.Readonly,
+		ReadonlyRootfs: ocispec.Root.Readonly,
 		Cmd:            cmd,
 		Annotations: map[string]string{
 			vcAnnotations.ConfigJSONKey: string(ociSpecJSON),
@@ -585,7 +581,7 @@ func ContainerConfig(ocispec CompatOCISpec, bundlePath, cid, console string, det
 		Resources:   *ocispec.Linux.Resources,
 	}
 
-	cType, err := ocispec.ContainerType()
+	cType, err := ContainerType(ocispec)
 	if err != nil {
 		return vc.ContainerConfig{}, err
 	}
@@ -622,9 +618,9 @@ func getShmSize(c vc.ContainerConfig) (uint64, error) {
 }
 
 // StatusToOCIState translates a virtcontainers container status into an OCI state.
-func StatusToOCIState(status vc.ContainerStatus) spec.State {
-	return spec.State{
-		Version:     spec.Version,
+func StatusToOCIState(status vc.ContainerStatus) specs.State {
+	return specs.State{
+		Version:     specs.Version,
 		ID:          status.ID,
 		Status:      StateToOCIState(status.State.State),
 		Pid:         status.PID,
@@ -684,15 +680,15 @@ func EnvVars(envs []string) ([]types.EnvVar, error) {
 
 // GetOCIConfig returns an OCI spec configuration from the annotation
 // stored into the container status.
-func GetOCIConfig(status vc.ContainerStatus) (CompatOCISpec, error) {
+func GetOCIConfig(status vc.ContainerStatus) (specs.Spec, error) {
 	ociConfigStr, ok := status.Annotations[vcAnnotations.ConfigJSONKey]
 	if !ok {
-		return CompatOCISpec{}, fmt.Errorf("Annotation[%s] not found", vcAnnotations.ConfigJSONKey)
+		return specs.Spec{}, fmt.Errorf("Annotation[%s] not found", vcAnnotations.ConfigJSONKey)
 	}
 
-	var ociSpec CompatOCISpec
+	var ociSpec specs.Spec
 	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(ociConfigStr), &ociSpec); err != nil {
-		return CompatOCISpec{}, err
+		return specs.Spec{}, err
 	}
 
 	return ociSpec, nil
diff --git a/virtcontainers/pkg/oci/utils_test.go b/virtcontainers/pkg/oci/utils_test.go
index d6edeb8e32..dafb2451c8 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/pkg/oci/utils_test.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/pkg/oci/utils_test.go
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func TestMinimalSandboxConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		Interactive:         true,
 		Console:             consolePath,
 		NoNewPrivileges:     true,
-		Capabilities: types.LinuxCapabilities{
+		Capabilities: &specs.LinuxCapabilities{
 			Bounding:    capList,
 			Effective:   capList,
 			Inheritable: capList,
@@ -168,17 +168,18 @@ func TestMinimalSandboxConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	var minimalOCISpec CompatOCISpec
+	var minimalOCISpec compatOCISpec
 
 	//Marshal and unmarshall json to compare  sandboxConfig and expectedSandboxConfig
 	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(minimalConfig), &minimalOCISpec)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	if minimalOCISpec.Process != nil {
-		caps, err := ContainerCapabilities(minimalOCISpec)
+		caps, err := containerCapabilities(minimalOCISpec)
 		assert.NoError(err)
-		minimalOCISpec.Process.Capabilities = caps
+		minimalOCISpec.Spec.Process = &minimalOCISpec.Process.Process
+		minimalOCISpec.Spec.Process.Capabilities = &caps
 	}
-	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(minimalOCISpec)
+	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(minimalOCISpec.Spec)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
 	devInfo := config.DeviceInfo{
@@ -489,8 +490,8 @@ func TestGetContainerTypeFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(containerType, expected)
 }
 
-func testContainerTypeSuccessful(t *testing.T, ociSpec CompatOCISpec, expected vc.ContainerType) {
-	containerType, err := ociSpec.ContainerType()
+func testContainerTypeSuccessful(t *testing.T, ociSpec specs.Spec, expected vc.ContainerType) {
+	containerType, err := ContainerType(ociSpec)
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	assert.NoError(err)
@@ -498,7 +499,7 @@ func testContainerTypeSuccessful(t *testing.T, ociSpec CompatOCISpec, expected v
 }
 
 func TestContainerTypePodSandbox(t *testing.T) {
-	var ociSpec CompatOCISpec
+	var ociSpec specs.Spec
 
 	ociSpec.Annotations = map[string]string{
 		annotations.ContainerType: annotations.ContainerTypeSandbox,
@@ -508,7 +509,7 @@ func TestContainerTypePodSandbox(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestContainerTypePodContainer(t *testing.T) {
-	var ociSpec CompatOCISpec
+	var ociSpec specs.Spec
 
 	ociSpec.Annotations = map[string]string{
 		annotations.ContainerType: annotations.ContainerTypeContainer,
@@ -518,11 +519,11 @@ func TestContainerTypePodContainer(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestContainerTypePodSandboxEmptyAnnotation(t *testing.T) {
-	testContainerTypeSuccessful(t, CompatOCISpec{}, vc.PodSandbox)
+	testContainerTypeSuccessful(t, specs.Spec{}, vc.PodSandbox)
 }
 
 func TestContainerTypeFailure(t *testing.T) {
-	var ociSpec CompatOCISpec
+	var ociSpec specs.Spec
 	expected := vc.UnknownContainerType
 	unknownType := "unknown_type"
 	assert := assert.New(t)
@@ -531,13 +532,13 @@ func TestContainerTypeFailure(t *testing.T) {
 		annotations.ContainerType: unknownType,
 	}
 
-	containerType, err := ociSpec.ContainerType()
+	containerType, err := ContainerType(ociSpec)
 	assert.Error(err)
 	assert.Equal(containerType, expected)
 }
 
 func TestSandboxIDSuccessful(t *testing.T) {
-	var ociSpec CompatOCISpec
+	var ociSpec specs.Spec
 	testSandboxID := "testSandboxID"
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
@@ -545,16 +546,16 @@ func TestSandboxIDSuccessful(t *testing.T) {
 		annotations.SandboxID: testSandboxID,
 	}
 
-	sandboxID, err := ociSpec.SandboxID()
+	sandboxID, err := SandboxID(ociSpec)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	assert.Equal(sandboxID, testSandboxID)
 }
 
 func TestSandboxIDFailure(t *testing.T) {
-	var ociSpec CompatOCISpec
+	var ociSpec specs.Spec
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
-	sandboxID, err := ociSpec.SandboxID()
+	sandboxID, err := SandboxID(ociSpec)
 	assert.Error(err)
 	assert.Empty(sandboxID)
 }
@@ -590,7 +591,7 @@ func TestAddKernelParamInvalid(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestDeviceTypeFailure(t *testing.T) {
-	var ociSpec CompatOCISpec
+	var ociSpec specs.Spec
 
 	invalidDeviceType := "f"
 	ociSpec.Linux = &specs.Linux{}
@@ -615,7 +616,7 @@ func TestContains(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestDevicePathEmpty(t *testing.T) {
-	var ociSpec CompatOCISpec
+	var ociSpec specs.Spec
 
 	ociSpec.Linux = &specs.Linux{}
 	ociSpec.Linux.Devices = []specs.LinuxDevice{
@@ -631,9 +632,9 @@ func TestDevicePathEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestContainerCapabilities(t *testing.T) {
-	var ociSpec CompatOCISpec
+	var ociSpec compatOCISpec
 
-	ociSpec.Process = &CompatOCIProcess{}
+	ociSpec.Process = &compatOCIProcess{}
 	ociSpec.Process.Capabilities = map[string]interface{}{
 		"bounding":    []interface{}{"CAP_KILL"},
 		"effective":   []interface{}{"CAP_KILL", "CAP_LEASE"},
@@ -642,7 +643,7 @@ func TestContainerCapabilities(t *testing.T) {
 		"ambient":     []interface{}{""},
 	}
 
-	c, err := ContainerCapabilities(ociSpec)
+	c, err := containerCapabilities(ociSpec)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, c.Bounding, []string{"CAP_KILL"})
 	assert.Equal(t, c.Effective, []string{"CAP_KILL", "CAP_LEASE"})
@@ -652,7 +653,7 @@ func TestContainerCapabilities(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ociSpec.Process.Capabilities = []interface{}{"CAP_LEASE", "CAP_SETUID"}
 
-	c, err = ContainerCapabilities(ociSpec)
+	c, err = containerCapabilities(ociSpec)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, c.Bounding, []string{"CAP_LEASE", "CAP_SETUID"})
 	assert.Equal(t, c.Effective, []string{"CAP_LEASE", "CAP_SETUID"})
@@ -662,7 +663,7 @@ func TestContainerCapabilities(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ociSpec.Process.Capabilities = nil
 
-	c, err = ContainerCapabilities(ociSpec)
+	c, err = containerCapabilities(ociSpec)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, c.Bounding, []string(nil))
 	assert.Equal(t, c.Effective, []string(nil))
@@ -673,9 +674,9 @@ func TestContainerCapabilities(t *testing.T) {
 
 // use specs.Spec to decode the spec, the content of capabilities is [] string
 func TestCompatOCISpecWithArray(t *testing.T) {
-	compatOCISpec := CompatOCISpec{}
+	compatOCISpec := compatOCISpec{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(capabilitiesSpecArray), &compatOCISpec)
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "use CompatOCISpec to decode capabilitiesSpecArray failed")
+	assert.Nil(t, err, "use compatOCISpec to decode capabilitiesSpecArray failed")
 
 	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(compatOCISpec)
 	assert.Nil(t, err, "encode compatOCISpec failed")
@@ -686,7 +687,7 @@ func TestCompatOCISpecWithArray(t *testing.T) {
 	err = json.Unmarshal(ociSpecJSON, &ociSpec)
 	assert.NotNil(t, err, "This test should fail")
 
-	caps, err := ContainerCapabilities(compatOCISpec)
+	caps, err := containerCapabilities(compatOCISpec)
 	assert.Nil(t, err, "decode capabilities failed")
 	compatOCISpec.Process.Capabilities = caps
 
@@ -700,9 +701,9 @@ func TestCompatOCISpecWithArray(t *testing.T) {
 
 // use specs.Spec to decode the spec, the content of capabilities is struct
 func TestCompatOCISpecWithStruct(t *testing.T) {
-	compatOCISpec := CompatOCISpec{}
+	compatOCISpec := compatOCISpec{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(capabilitiesSpecStruct), &compatOCISpec)
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "use CompatOCISpec to decode capabilitiesSpecStruct failed")
+	assert.Nil(t, err, "use compatOCISpec to decode capabilitiesSpecStruct failed")
 
 	ociSpecJSON, err := json.Marshal(compatOCISpec)
 	assert.Nil(t, err, "encode compatOCISpec failed")
@@ -810,10 +811,8 @@ func TestAddAssetAnnotations(t *testing.T) {
 		AgentConfig: vc.KataAgentConfig{},
 	}
 
-	ocispec := CompatOCISpec{
-		Spec: spec.Spec{
-			Annotations: expectedAnnotations,
-		},
+	ocispec := spec.Spec{
+		Annotations: expectedAnnotations,
 	}
 
 	addAssetAnnotations(ocispec, &config)
diff --git a/virtcontainers/types/sandbox.go b/virtcontainers/types/sandbox.go
index 2259e86d52..655821c11b 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/types/sandbox.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/types/sandbox.go
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ package types
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
 )
 
 // StateString is a string representing a sandbox state.
@@ -225,21 +227,6 @@ type EnvVar struct {
 	Value string
 }
 
-// LinuxCapabilities specify the capabilities to keep when executing
-// the process inside the container.
-type LinuxCapabilities struct {
-	// Bounding is the set of capabilities checked by the kernel.
-	Bounding []string
-	// Effective is the set of capabilities checked by the kernel.
-	Effective []string
-	// Inheritable is the capabilities preserved across execve.
-	Inheritable []string
-	// Permitted is the limiting superset for effective capabilities.
-	Permitted []string
-	// Ambient is the ambient set of capabilities that are kept.
-	Ambient []string
-}
-
 // Cmd represents a command to execute in a running container.
 type Cmd struct {
 	Args                []string
@@ -272,7 +259,7 @@ type Cmd struct {
 	PrimaryGroup string
 	WorkDir      string
 	Console      string
-	Capabilities LinuxCapabilities
+	Capabilities *specs.LinuxCapabilities
 
 	Interactive     bool
 	Detach          bool