CVE-2020-8551
Kubernetes kubelet denial of service
The Kubelet component in versions 1.15.0-1.15.9, 1.16.0-1.16.6, and 1.17.0-1.17.2 has been found to be vulnerable to a denial of service attack via the kubelet API, including the unauthenticated HTTP read-only API typically served on port 10255, and the authenticated HTTPS API typically served on port 10250.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Adjacent network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Kubernetes kubelet denial of service
The Kubelet component in versions 1.15.0-1.15.9, 1.16.0-1.16.6, and 1.17.0-1.17.2 has been found to be vulnerable to a denial of service attack via the kubelet API, including the unauthenticated HTTP read-only API typically served on port 10255, and the authenticated HTTPS API typically served on port 10250.
- Record
CVE-2020-8551- CVSS 3.1
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-789
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-1155
The Kubelet component in versions 1.15.0-1.15.9, 1.16.0-1.16.6, and 1.17.0-1.17.2 has been found to be vulnerable to a denial of service attack via the kubelet API, including the unauthenticated HTTP read-only API typically served on port 10255, and the authenticated HTTPS API typically served on port 10250.
- Record
EUVD-2022-1155- CVSS 3.1
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-qhm4-jxv7-j9pq
Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling and Uncontrolled Memory Allocation in Kubernetes
The Kubelet component in versions 1.15.0-1.15.9, 1.16.0-1.16.6, and 1.17.0-1.17.2 has been found to be vulnerable to a denial of service attack via the kubelet API, including the unauthenticated HTTP read-only API typically served on port 10255, and the authenticated HTTPS API typically served on port 10250.
- Record
GHSA-qhm4-jxv7-j9pq- CVSS 3.1
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-770, CWE-789
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
The Kubelet component in versions 1.15.0-1.15.9, 1.16.0-1.16.6, and 1.17.0-1.17.2 has been found to be vulnerable to a denial of service attack via the kubelet API, including the unauthenticated HTTP read-only API typically served on port 10255, and the authenticated HTTPS API typically served on port 10250.
- Record
CVE-2020-8551- CVSS 3.1
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 3.3 Low
AV:A/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-789, CWE-770
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
The Kubelet component in versions 1.15.0-1.15.9, 1.16.0-1.16.6, and 1.17.0-1.17.2 has been found to be vulnerable to a denial of service attack via the kubelet API, including the unauthenticated HTTP read-only API typically served on port 10255, and the authenticated HTTPS API typically served on port 10250.
- Record
CVE-2020-8551- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2020-8551
The Kubelet component in versions 1.15.0-1.15.9, 1.16.0-1.16.6, and 1.17.0-1.17.2 has been found to be vulnerable to a denial of service attack via the kubelet API, including the unauthenticated HTTP read-only API typically served on port 10255, and the authenticated HTTPS API typically served on port 10250.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2020-8551- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-qhm4-jxv7-j9pq
Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling and Uncontrolled Memory Allocation in Kubernetes
The Kubelet component in versions 1.15.0-1.15.9, 1.16.0-1.16.6, and 1.17.0-1.17.2 has been found to be vulnerable to a denial of service attack via the kubelet API, including the unauthenticated HTTP read-only API typically served on port 10255, and the authenticated HTTPS API typically served on port 10250.
- Record
GHSA-qhm4-jxv7-j9pq- CVSS 3.1
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-770, CWE-789
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2020:1276
Red Hat Security Advisory: OpenShift Container Platform 4.3.10 openshift security update
- Record
RHSA-2020:1276- CVSS 3.1
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGO-2022-0867 No score
Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling and Uncontrolled Memory Allocation in Kubernetes in k8s.io/kubernetes
Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling and Uncontrolled Memory Allocation in Kubernetes in k8s.io/kubernetes
- Record
GO-2022-0867- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2025:15424-1 No score
govulncheck-vulndb-0.0.20250807T150727-1.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the govulncheck-vulndb-0.0.20250807T150727-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2025:15424-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
k8s.io/kubernetesGo |
1.15.0 up to 1.15.10 | 1.15.10 |
k8s.io/kubernetesGo |
1.16.0 up to 1.16.6 | 1.16.6 |
k8s.io/kubernetesGo |
1.17.0 up to 1.17.2 | 1.17.2 |
kubernetesDebian:12 |
before 1.17.4-1 | 1.17.4-1 |
kubernetesDebian:13 |
before 1.17.4-1 | 1.17.4-1 |
kubernetesDebian:14 |
before 1.17.4-1 | 1.17.4-1 |
k8s.io/kubernetesGo |
1.15.0 up to 1.15.10, 1.16.0 up to 1.16.6, 1.17.0 up to 1.17.2 | 1.15.101.16.61.17.2 |
openshiftRed Hat:openshift:4.3::el7 |
before 0:4.3.10-202003300855.git.0.da48c1d.el7 | 0:4.3.10-202003300855.git.0.da48c1d.el7 |
openshift-hyperkubeRed Hat:openshift:4.3::el7 |
before 0:4.3.10-202003300855.git.0.da48c1d.el7 | 0:4.3.10-202003300855.git.0.da48c1d.el7 |
openshiftRed Hat:openshift:4.3::el8 |
before 0:4.3.10-202003300855.git.0.da48c1d.el8 | 0:4.3.10-202003300855.git.0.da48c1d.el8 |
openshift-hyperkubeRed Hat:openshift:4.3::el8 |
before 0:4.3.10-202003300855.git.0.da48c1d.el8 | 0:4.3.10-202003300855.git.0.da48c1d.el8 |
govulncheck-vulndbopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 44 CVEs |
before 0.0.20250807T150727-1.1 | 0.0.20250807T150727-1.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2020-8551 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.3) in Kubernetes, published March 27, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.24%, the 69th percentile. Fixed in k8s.io/kubernetes 1.15.10.
References
github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/89377
groups.google.com/forum
security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200413-0003
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/3SOCLOPTSYABTE4CLTSPDIFE6ZZZR4LX
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8551
Show 54 moreShow less
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2020-8551
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:1276
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1816403
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2020/rhsa-2020_1276.json
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8551
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-7561