Kyverno before 1.19.1 ImageValidatingPolicy Exception Bypass
Kyverno is a policy engine for Kubernetes. In versions 1.14.0 through 1.19.0, the ImageValidatingPolicy (policies.kyverno.io/v1beta1) evaluator never reads the spec.images and spec.allowedValues fields of a PolicyException. Any PolicyException whose policyRefs and matchConditions match a resource causes image signature verification to be skipped for the entire resource rather than only for the listed images or values, so an exception intended to exempt a single trusted image exempts every image on the matched resource(s). As a result, unsigned or untrusted images can be admitted to the cluster without signature verification. This differs from ValidatingPolicy, GeneratingPolicy, and MutatingPolicy, which treat the same field as a partial exemption. The issue is fixed in version 1.19.1.
- Published
- Sep 26, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 30, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.2% · 7th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-863
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Report tools
Action score
33
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 33 / 40 · 8.3 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.2%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- proof of concept
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- —
- CNA · VulnCheck
- 8.3
- NVD has not scored this yet; the score shown is the CNA’s.
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:H/SA:N
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
—
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (VulnCheck). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
kyverno kyverno
- 1.19.1not affected
- 1.14.0 and later · before 1.19.1affected · semver
Same product
kyverno: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2026-4789Kyverno, versions 1.16.0 and later, are vulnerable to SSRF due to unrestricted CEL HTTP functions.39Monitor
- CVE-2026-22039Kyverno Cross-Namespace Privilege Escalation via Policy apiCall39Monitor
- CVE-2026-54523Kyverno: NamespacedGeneratingPolicy generator.apply() namespace argument unvalidated -- background controller creates RoleBindings in any namespace including ku38Monitor
- CVE-2026-100706kyverno before 1.19.1 Privilege Escalation via Policy apiCall urlPath37Monitor
- CVE-2026-84200Kyverno before v1.13.0 Policy Bypass via Multiple Exceptions37Monitor
- CVE-2023-54356Kyverno before 1.9.5 Sweet32 Medium Strength Cipher Suites37Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| kyverno kyverno | 1.19.1 | Vendor (CNA) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
- zanarellidevreporter
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
- CVE-2026-41068155 days apartKyverno: Cross-Namespace Read Bypasses RBAC Isolation (CVE-2026-22039 Incomplete Fix)30Monitor
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- Integrity
- Availability
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- X
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-863 · Incorrect AuthorizationCVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:H/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
nvd-secondary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
- SSVC exploitation— → poc
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- github.com/kyverno/kyverno/security/advisories/GHSA-5cjf-wwfg-pj4c
- www.vulncheck.com/advisories/kyverno-before-1.19.1-imagevalidatingpolicy-exception-bypass
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.