CVE-2024-9486
Published: 15 October 2024
Summary
CVE-2024-9486 is a critical-severity Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798) vulnerability in Kubernetes-Sigs Image Builder. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 10.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
A security issue was discovered in the Kubernetes Image Builder versions <= v0.1.37 where default credentials are enabled during the image build process. Virtual machine images built using the Proxmox provider do not disable these default credentials, and nodes using the resulting images may be accessible via these default credentials. The credentials can be used to gain root access. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if their nodes use VM images created via the Image Builder project with its Proxmox provider.
An unauthenticated attacker with network access to a node built from an affected image can authenticate using the default credentials and obtain root privileges on the system. This grants full control over the node, including the ability to read, modify, or disrupt workloads running in the cluster. Exploitation requires no user interaction or special privileges beyond reachability of the exposed VM.
The referenced Kubernetes security announcement and linked GitHub pull request 1595 address the issue in the Image Builder project, with the associated Kubernetes issue providing further cluster operator guidance on identifying and replacing affected images. The EPSS score has remained flat at 0.05 with no material increase observed after disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-3002
Vulnerability details
A security issue was discovered in the Kubernetes Image Builder versions <= v0.1.37 where default credentials are enabled during the image build process. Virtual machine images built using the Proxmox provider do not disable these default credentials, and nodes using…
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the resulting images may be accessible via these default credentials. The credentials can be used to gain root access. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if their nodes use VM images created via the Image Builder project with its Proxmox provider.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Enables users to notice when hard-coded credentials have been exploited for unauthorized access.
Security training explicitly warns against hard-coded credentials, lowering their use in systems.
Policy and procedures prohibit hard-coded credentials in favor of managed authentication.
External identity providers eliminate the need for hard-coded credentials in applications.
Changing default authenticators prior to first use and protecting content prevents use of hard-coded credentials.
Central credential stores and rotation policies remove the need for hard-coded credentials in configuration files or code.
Intelligence programs surface reports of campaigns that abuse hard-coded credentials in products, prompting removal or replacement and thereby reducing successful exploitation.
Planned investment enables secure credential storage and management systems instead of hard-coded credentials.