CVE-2023-26484: On a compromised KubeVirt node, the virt-handler service account can be used to modify all node specs
KubeVirt is a virtual machine management add-on for Kubernetes. In versions 0.59.0 and prior, if a malicious user has taken over a Kubernetes node where virt-handler (the KubeVirt node-daemon) is running, the virt-handler service account can be used to modify all node specs. This can be misused to lure-in system-level-privileged components which can, for instance, read all secrets on the cluster, or can exec into pods on other nodes. This way, a compromised node can be used to elevate privileges beyond the node until potentially having full privileged access to the whole cluster. The simplest way to exploit this, once a user could compromise a specific node, is to set with the virt-handler service account all other nodes to unschedulable and simply wait until system-critical components with high privileges appear on its node. No patches are available as of time of publication. As a workaround, gatekeeper users can add a webhook which will block the virt-handler service account to modify the spec of a node.
Other sources
On a compromised KubeVirt node the virt-handler service account can be used to modify all node specs
— Microsoft
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-26484?
CVE-2023-26484 is a vulnerability in KubeVirt, a virtual machine management add-on for Kubernetes, where a malicious user with control over a Kubernetes node can modify all node specs.
How does CVE-2023-26484 impact KubeVirt?
CVE-2023-26484 allows an attacker who has compromised a Kubernetes node running virt-handler to modify all node specs, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control over the Kubernetes cluster.
What is the severity of CVE-2023-26484?
CVE-2023-26484 has a severity rating of 8.2 (high).
Which versions of KubeVirt are affected by CVE-2023-26484?
Versions up to and including 0.59.0 of KubeVirt are affected by CVE-2023-26484.
How can I fix CVE-2023-26484 in KubeVirt?
To fix CVE-2023-26484, it is recommended to update KubeVirt to a version higher than 0.59.0 to mitigate the vulnerability.