CVE-2023-2728: Bypassing enforce mountable secrets policy imposed by the ServiceAccount admission plugin
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 27/100)
- Public proof-of-concept code exists (GitHub); there is no record of exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 2.1% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 82.1% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. Administrator privileges are required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: kubernetes (Debian:12) 1.20.5+really1.20.2-1; k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) 1.25.11, 1.26.6, 1.27.3; kubernetes1.18 (openSUSE:Leap 15.4) 1.18.10-150200.5.10.1.
Low priority for now. Upgrade to kubernetes (Debian:12) 1.20.5+really1.20.2-1; k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) 1.25.11, 1.26.6, 1.27.3; kubernetes1.18 (openSUSE:Leap 15.4) 1.18.10-150200.5.10.1 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
Users may be able to launch containers that bypass the mountable secrets policy enforced by the ServiceAccount admission plugin when using ephemeral containers. The policy ensures pods running with a service account may only reference secrets specified in the service account’s secrets field. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if the ServiceAccount admission plugin and the `kubernetes.io/enforce-mountable-secrets` annotation are used together with ephemeral containers.
- Published
- Jul 3, 2023
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 2.1% · 82th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-20
Report tools
Action score
27
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 26 / 40 · 6.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 2.1%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 6.5
- CNA · kubernetes
- 6.5
- agree
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- Proof of concept exists, no weaponized module
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
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Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| kubernetes | kubernetes | cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes |
Using kubernetes? Add it to your stack and be the first to know about CVEs like this one. (Kubernetes)
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- kubernetes kubernetesup to 1.24.14 inclusive
- kubernetes kubernetes1.25.0 and later · up to 1.25.10 inclusive
- kubernetes kubernetes1.26.0 and later · up to 1.26.5 inclusive
- kubernetes kubernetes1.27.0 and later · up to 1.27.2 inclusive
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (kubernetes). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Kubernetes Kubernetes
- v1.25.0 - v1.25.10, v1.26.0 - v1.26.5, v1.27.0 - v1.27.2affected
- v1.24.14 and later · up to and including <=affected · semver
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | kubernetes | before 1.20.5+really1.20.2-1 | 1.20.5+really1.20.2-1 |
| Go | k8s.io/kubernetes | from 1.25.0 · before 1.25.11 | 1.25.11 |
| Go | k8s.io/kubernetes | from 1.26.0 · before 1.26.6 | 1.26.6 |
| Go | k8s.io/kubernetes | from 1.27.0 · before 1.27.3 | 1.27.3 |
| Go | k8s.io/kubernetes | before 1.24.15 | 1.24.15 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | kubernetes1.18 | before 1.18.10-150200.5.10.1 | 1.18.10-150200.5.10.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | kubernetes1.24 | before 1.24.16-150400.9.8.2 | 1.24.16-150400.9.8.2 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | kubernetes1.23 | before 1.23.17-150500.3.3.1 | 1.23.17-150500.3.3.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | kubernetes1.24 | before 1.24.13-150500.3.3.1 | 1.24.13-150500.3.3.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | kubernetes1.23 | before 1.23.17-4.1 | 1.23.17-4.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | kubernetes1.24 | before 1.24.15-2.1 | 1.24.15-2.1 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic | before 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 | 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic-api | before 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 | 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic-common | before 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 | 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic-conductor | before 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 | 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic-dnsmasq-tftp-server | before 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 | 1:21.5.0-0.20231002130534.0df5961.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic-inspector | before 0:11.5.0-0.20230706175125.193aa0d.el9 | 0:11.5.0-0.20230706175125.193aa0d.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic-inspector-api | before 0:11.5.0-0.20230706175125.193aa0d.el9 | 0:11.5.0-0.20230706175125.193aa0d.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic-inspector-conductor | before 0:11.5.0-0.20230706175125.193aa0d.el9 | 0:11.5.0-0.20230706175125.193aa0d.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic-inspector-dnsmasq | before 0:11.5.0-0.20230706175125.193aa0d.el9 | 0:11.5.0-0.20230706175125.193aa0d.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | openstack-ironic-python-agent | before 0:9.5.0-0.20230728140546.fce0b8c.el9 | 0:9.5.0-0.20230728140546.fce0b8c.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | python-automaton | before 0:3.1.0-0.20230608140652.a4f7631.el9 | 0:3.1.0-0.20230608140652.a4f7631.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | python-cinderclient | before 0:9.3.0-0.20230608143053.f7a612e.el9 | 0:9.3.0-0.20230608143053.f7a612e.el9 |
| Red Hat:openshift_ironic:4.14::el9 | python-cliff | before 0:4.3.0-0.20230608150702.72e81d7.el9 | 0:4.3.0-0.20230608150702.72e81d7.el9 |
+96
Same product
kubernetes: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2018-1002105In all Kubernetes versions prior to v1.10.11, v1.11.5, and v1.12.3, incorrect handling of error responses to proxied upgrade requests in the65This week
- CVE-2019-11248Kubernetes kubelet exposes /debug/pprof info on healthz port55Plan
- CVE-2017-1002101In Kubernetes versions 1.3.x, 1.4.x, 1.5.x, 1.6.x and prior to versions 1.7.14, 1.8.9 and 1.9.4 containers using subpath volume mounts with 42Plan
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2023-2431Jun 16, 2023 · Bypass of seccomp profile enforcement22Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2023-2727Jul 3, 2023 · Bypassing policies imposed by the ImagePolicyWebhook admission plugin26Monitor
- Later →CVE-2021-25736Oct 29, 2023 · Windows kube-proxy LoadBalancer contention25Monitor
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 |
|---|---|---|
| debian:kubernetes | 1.20.5+really1.20.2-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:k8s.io/kubernetes | 1.24.15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:k8s.io/kubernetes | 1.25.11 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:k8s.io/kubernetes | 1.26.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:k8s.io/kubernetes | 1.27.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kubernetes1.18 | 1.18.10-150200.5.10.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kubernetes1.23 | 1.23.17-150500.3.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:kubernetes1.24 | 1.24.13-150500.3.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah | 1:1.29.1-10.1.rhaos4.14.el8 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah-debuginfo | 1:1.29.1-10.1.rhaos4.14.el8 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah-debugsource | 1:1.29.1-10.1.rhaos4.14.el8 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah-tests | 1:1.29.1-10.1.rhaos4.14.el8 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:buildah-tests-debuginfo | 1:1.29.1-10.1.rhaos4.14.el8 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:butane | 0:0.19.0-1.1.rhaos4.14.el8 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift | 0:4.14.0-202310261440.p0.g1586504.assembly.4.14.0.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-networking | 0:4.14.0-202310261440.p0.g1586504.assembly.4.14.0.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-release-info | 0:4.14.0-202310261440.p0.g1586504.assembly.4.14.0.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:microshift-selinux | 0:4.14.0-202310261440.p0.g1586504.assembly.4.14.0.el9 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:openshift-clients | 0:4.14.0-202310191146.p0.g0c63f9d.assembly.stream.el8 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:openshift-clients-redistributable | 0:4.14.0-202310191146.p0.g0c63f9d.assembly.stream.el8 · Red Hat:openshift:4.14::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kubernetes1.18 | 1.18.10-150200.5.10.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Containers 15 SP4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kubernetes1.23 | 1.23.17-150300.7.9.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Containers 15 SP4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kubernetes1.23 | 1.23.17-150500.3.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Containers 15 SP5 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kubernetes1.24 | 1.24.13-150500.3.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Containers 15 SP5 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Proof of concept available
A public proof of concept or detection signature exists. Exploit knowledge is out there; don't delay patching.
Evidence
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2024-09-05 |
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.
- Published
- First PoC+429 d
- TodayOct 29, 2026+1214 d
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.
- Rita Zhangreporter
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
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
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- Administrator privileges are required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- none
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-20 · Improper Input ValidationCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Server Side Include (SSI) InjectionCAPEC-101likelihood: High · High
- Cross Zone ScriptingCAPEC-104likelihood: Medium · High
- Command Line Execution through SQL InjectionCAPEC-108likelihood: Low · Very High
- Object Relational Mapping InjectionCAPEC-109likelihood: Low · High
- SQL Injection through SOAP Parameter TamperingCAPEC-110likelihood: High · Very High
- Double EncodingCAPEC-120likelihood: Low · Medium
- Subverting Environment Variable ValuesCAPEC-13likelihood: High · Very High
ATT&CK techniques
- Obfuscated Files or InformationT1027
- Masquerading: Invalid Code SignatureT1036.001
- Steal Web Session CookieT1539
- Subvert Trust Controls: Code SigningT1553.002
- Impair Defenses:Impair Command History LoggingT1562.003
- Hijack Execution Flow:Dynamic Linker HijackingT1574.006
- Hijack Execution Flow:Path Interception by PATH Environment VariableT1574.007
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (3 more)Show less
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.