{"id":"CVE-2022-24817","aliases":["BIT-flux-2022-24817","BIT-kustomize-2022-24817","EUVD-2022-5436","GHSA-vvmq-fwmg-2gjc"],"status":"published","title":"Improper kubeconfig validation allows arbitrary code execution","description":"Flux2 is an open and extensible continuous delivery solution for Kubernetes. Flux2 versions between 0.1.0 and 0.29.0, helm-controller 0.1.0 to v0.19.0, and kustomize-controller 0.1.0 to v0.23.0 are vulnerable to Code Injection via malicious Kubeconfig. In multi-tenancy deployments this can also lead to privilege escalation if the controller's service account has elevated permissions. Workarounds include disabling functionality via Validating Admission webhooks by restricting users from setting the `spec.kubeConfig` field in Flux `Kustomization` and `HelmRelease` objects. Additional mitigations include applying restrictive AppArmor and SELinux profiles on the controller’s pod to limit what binaries can be executed. This vulnerability is fixed in kustomize-controller v0.23.0 and helm-controller v0.19.0, both included in flux2 v0.29.0","severity":{"version":"3.1","score":9.9,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"critical","assessor":"cna","from":"cve"},"epss":{"day":"2026-11-11","score":0.01118,"percentile":0.66552,"model":"v2026.06.15"},"facts":{"in_kev":false,"known_exploited":false,"public_exploit":false,"fix_available":true},"cwes":["CWE-94"],"published":"2022-05-06T00:00:14Z","modified":"2026-10-28T02:30:21Z","fixes":[{"ecosystem":"Go","package":"github.com/fluxcd/flux2","fixed_in":["0.29.0"],"sources":["ghsa","osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Go","package":"github.com/fluxcd/kustomize-controller","fixed_in":["0.23.0"],"sources":["ghsa","osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Go","package":"github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller","fixed_in":["0.19.0"],"sources":["ghsa","osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Bitnami","package":"flux","fixed_in":["0.29.0"],"sources":["osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Bitnami","package":"kustomize","fixed_in":["0.23.0"],"sources":["osv"]}],"affected":[{"source":"ghsa","ecosystem":"Go","package":"github.com/fluxcd/flux2","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0.1.0"},{"fixed":"0.29.0"}]}]},{"source":"ghsa","ecosystem":"Go","package":"github.com/fluxcd/kustomize-controller","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0.1.0"},{"fixed":"0.23.0"}]}]},{"source":"ghsa","ecosystem":"Go","package":"github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0.2.0"},{"fixed":"0.19.0"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Bitnami","package":"flux","ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"0.1.0"},{"fixed":"0.29.0"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Bitnami","package":"kustomize","ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"0.1.0"},{"fixed":"0.23.0"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Go","package":"github.com/fluxcd/flux2","ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"0.1.0"},{"fixed":"0.29.0"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Go","package":"github.com/fluxcd/kustomize-controller","ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"0.1.0"},{"fixed":"0.23.0"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Go","package":"github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller","ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"0.2.0"},{"fixed":"0.19.0"}]}]}],"products":[{"vendor":"fluxcd","product":"flux2"},{"vendor":"fluxcd","product":"helm-controller"},{"vendor":"fluxcd","product":"kustomize-controller"}],"references":[{"url":"https://github.com/fluxcd/flux2/security/advisories/GHSA-vvmq-fwmg-2gjc","tags":["x_refsource_CONFIRM","x_transferred","Patch","Third Party Advisory","advisory","web"]},{"url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-24817","tags":["web","advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-vvmq-fwmg-2gjc"},{"url":"https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2022/24xxx/CVE-2022-24817.json","tags":["advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/fluxcd/flux2","tags":["package"]}],"sources":{"cve":[{"id":"CVE-2022-24817","title":"Improper kubeconfig validation allows arbitrary code execution","description":"Flux2 is an open and extensible continuous delivery solution for Kubernetes. Flux2 versions between 0.1.0 and 0.29.0, helm-controller 0.1.0 to v0.19.0, and kustomize-controller 0.1.0 to v0.23.0 are vulnerable to Code Injection via malicious Kubeconfig. In multi-tenancy deployments this can also lead to privilege escalation if the controller's service account has elevated permissions. Workarounds include disabling functionality via Validating Admission webhooks by restricting users from setting the `spec.kubeConfig` field in Flux `Kustomization` and `HelmRelease` objects. Additional mitigations include applying restrictive AppArmor and SELinux profiles on the controller’s pod to limit what binaries can be executed. This vulnerability is fixed in kustomize-controller v0.23.0 and helm-controller v0.19.0, both included in flux2 v0.29.0","status":"published","published":"2022-05-06T00:00:14Z","modified":"2025-04-23T18:29:46.822Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":9.9,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"critical","assessor":"cna"}],"cwes":["CWE-94"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T14:34:34.576287Z"}],"euvd":[{"id":"EUVD-2022-5436","description":"Flux2 is an open and extensible continuous delivery solution for Kubernetes. Flux2 versions between 0.1.0 and 0.29.0, helm-controller 0.1.0 to v0.19.0, and kustomize-controller 0.1.0 to v0.23.0 are vulnerable to Code Injection via malicious Kubeconfig. In multi-tenancy deployments this can also lead to privilege escalation if the controller's service account has elevated permissions. Workarounds include disabling functionality via Validating Admission webhooks by restricting users from setting the `spec.kubeConfig` field in Flux `Kustomization` and `HelmRelease` objects. Additional mitigations include applying restrictive AppArmor and SELinux profiles on the controller’s pod to limit what binaries can be executed. This vulnerability is fixed in kustomize-controller v0.23.0 and helm-controller v0.19.0, both included in flux2 v0.29.0","status":"published","published":"2022-05-06T00:00:14Z","modified":"2025-04-23T18:29:46Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":9.9,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"critical"}],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T20:52:08.401317Z"}],"ghsa":[{"id":"GHSA-vvmq-fwmg-2gjc","title":"Improper kubeconfig validation allows arbitrary code execution","description":"Flux2 can reconcile the state of a remote cluster when provided with a [kubeconfig](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/configuration/organize-cluster-access-kubeconfig/#file-references) with the correct access rights. `Kubeconfig` files can define [commands](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/access-authn-authz/authentication/#client-go-credential-plugins) to be executed to generate on-demand authentication tokens. A malicious user with write access to a Flux source or direct access to the target cluster, could craft a `kubeconfig` to execute arbitrary code inside the controller’s container.\n\nIn multi-tenancy deployments this can also lead to privilege escalation if the controller's service account has elevated permissions.\n\n### Impact\n\nWithin the affected versions range, one of the permissions set below would be required for the vulnerability to be exploited:\n- Direct access to the cluster to create Flux `Kustomization` or `HelmRelease` objects and Kubernetes Secrets.\n- Direct access to the cluster to modify existing Kubernetes secrets being used as `kubeconfig` in existing Flux `Kustomization` or `HelmRelease` objects.\n- Direct access to the cluster to modify existing Flux `Kustomization` or `HelmRelease` objects and access to create or modify existing Kubernetes secrets.\n- Access rights to make changes to a configured Flux Source (i.e. Git repository).\n\n### Patches\n\nThis vulnerability was fixed in kustomize-controller [v0.23.0](https://github.com/fluxcd/kustomize-controller/releases/tag/v0.23.0) and helm-controller [v0.19.0](https://github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/releases/tag/v0.19.0), both included in flux2 [v0.29.0](https://github.com/fluxcd/flux2/releases/tag/v0.29.0). Starting from the fixed versions, both controllers disable the use of command execution from `kubeconfig` files by default, users have to opt-in by adding the flag `--insecure-kubeconfig-exec` to the controller’s command arguments. Users are no longer allowed to refer to files in the controller’s filesystem in the `kubeconfig` files provided for the remote apply feature.\n\n### Workarounds\n\n- The functionality can be disabled via Validating Admission webhooks (e.g. OPA Gatekeeper, Kyverno) by restricting users from being able to set the `spec.kubeConfig` field in Flux `Kustomization` and `HelmRelease` objects.\n- Applying restrictive AppArmor and SELinux profiles on the controller’s pod to limit what binaries can be executed.\n\n### Credits\n\nThe Flux engineering team found and patched this vulnerability.\n\n### For more information\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory please open an issue in the [flux2 repository](http://github.com/fluxcd/flux2).\n","status":"published","published":"2022-05-16T18:13:51Z","modified":"2023-02-03T05:01:11Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":9.9,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"critical"}],"cwes":["CWE-94"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T14:36:41.247728Z"}],"nvd":[{"id":"CVE-2022-24817","description":"Flux2 is an open and extensible continuous delivery solution for Kubernetes. Flux2 versions between 0.1.0 and 0.29.0, helm-controller 0.1.0 to v0.19.0, and kustomize-controller 0.1.0 to v0.23.0 are vulnerable to Code Injection via malicious Kubeconfig. In multi-tenancy deployments this can also lead to privilege escalation if the controller's service account has elevated permissions. Workarounds include disabling functionality via Validating Admission webhooks by restricting users from setting the `spec.kubeConfig` field in Flux `Kustomization` and `HelmRelease` objects. Additional mitigations include applying restrictive AppArmor and SELinux profiles on the controller’s pod to limit what binaries can be executed. This vulnerability is fixed in kustomize-controller v0.23.0 and helm-controller v0.19.0, both included in flux2 v0.29.0","status":"published","published":"2022-05-06T00:15:07.637Z","modified":"2026-06-17T04:32:35.197Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":9.9,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"critical","assessor":"secondary"},{"version":"3.1","score":9.9,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"critical","assessor":"primary"},{"version":"2.0","score":6.5,"vector":"AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P","level":"medium","assessor":"primary"}],"cwes":["CWE-94"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T14:07:19.51203Z"}],"osv":[{"id":"CVE-2022-24817","title":"Improper kubeconfig validation allows arbitrary code execution","description":"Flux2 is an open and extensible continuous delivery solution for Kubernetes. Flux2 versions between 0.1.0 and 0.29.0, helm-controller 0.1.0 to v0.19.0, and kustomize-controller 0.1.0 to v0.23.0 are vulnerable to Code Injection via malicious Kubeconfig. In multi-tenancy deployments this can also lead to privilege escalation if the controller's service account has elevated permissions. Workarounds include disabling functionality via Validating Admission webhooks by restricting users from setting the `spec.kubeConfig` field in Flux `Kustomization` and `HelmRelease` objects. Additional mitigations include applying restrictive AppArmor and SELinux profiles on the controller’s pod to limit what binaries can be executed. This vulnerability is fixed in kustomize-controller v0.23.0 and helm-controller v0.19.0, both included in flux2 v0.29.0","status":"published","published":"2022-05-06T00:00:14Z","modified":"2026-10-28T02:30:21.577622942Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":9.9,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"critical"}],"cwes":["CWE-94"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:44:24.428403Z"},{"id":"GHSA-vvmq-fwmg-2gjc","title":"Improper kubeconfig validation allows arbitrary code execution","description":"Flux2 can reconcile the state of a remote cluster when provided with a [kubeconfig](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/configuration/organize-cluster-access-kubeconfig/#file-references) with the correct access rights. `Kubeconfig` files can define [commands](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/access-authn-authz/authentication/#client-go-credential-plugins) to be executed to generate on-demand authentication tokens. A malicious user with write access to a Flux source or direct access to the target cluster, could craft a `kubeconfig` to execute arbitrary code inside the controller’s container.\n\nIn multi-tenancy deployments this can also lead to privilege escalation if the controller's service account has elevated permissions.\n\n### Impact\n\nWithin the affected versions range, one of the permissions set below would be required for the vulnerability to be exploited:\n- Direct access to the cluster to create Flux `Kustomization` or `HelmRelease` objects and Kubernetes Secrets.\n- Direct access to the cluster to modify existing Kubernetes secrets being used as `kubeconfig` in existing Flux `Kustomization` or `HelmRelease` objects.\n- Direct access to the cluster to modify existing Flux `Kustomization` or `HelmRelease` objects and access to create or modify existing Kubernetes secrets.\n- Access rights to make changes to a configured Flux Source (i.e. Git repository).\n\n### Patches\n\nThis vulnerability was fixed in kustomize-controller [v0.23.0](https://github.com/fluxcd/kustomize-controller/releases/tag/v0.23.0) and helm-controller [v0.19.0](https://github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/releases/tag/v0.19.0), both included in flux2 [v0.29.0](https://github.com/fluxcd/flux2/releases/tag/v0.29.0). Starting from the fixed versions, both controllers disable the use of command execution from `kubeconfig` files by default, users have to opt-in by adding the flag `--insecure-kubeconfig-exec` to the controller’s command arguments. Users are no longer allowed to refer to files in the controller’s filesystem in the `kubeconfig` files provided for the remote apply feature.\n\n### Workarounds\n\n- The functionality can be disabled via Validating Admission webhooks (e.g. OPA Gatekeeper, Kyverno) by restricting users from being able to set the `spec.kubeConfig` field in Flux `Kustomization` and `HelmRelease` objects.\n- Applying restrictive AppArmor and SELinux profiles on the controller’s pod to limit what binaries can be executed.\n\n### Credits\n\nThe Flux engineering team found and patched this vulnerability.\n\n### For more information\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory please open an issue in the [flux2 repository](http://github.com/fluxcd/flux2).\n","status":"published","published":"2022-05-16T18:13:51Z","modified":"2025-12-02T18:27:40.18083Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":9.9,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"critical"}],"cwes":["CWE-94"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:46:57.694388Z"},{"id":"BIT-flux-2022-24817","title":"Improper kubeconfig validation allows arbitrary code execution","description":"Flux2 is an open and extensible continuous delivery solution for Kubernetes. Flux2 versions between 0.1.0 and 0.29.0, helm-controller 0.1.0 to v0.19.0, and kustomize-controller 0.1.0 to v0.23.0 are vulnerable to Code Injection via malicious Kubeconfig. In multi-tenancy deployments this can also lead to privilege escalation if the controller's service account has elevated permissions. Workarounds include disabling functionality via Validating Admission webhooks by restricting users from setting the `spec.kubeConfig` field in Flux `Kustomization` and `HelmRelease` objects. Additional mitigations include applying restrictive AppArmor and SELinux profiles on the controller’s pod to limit what binaries can be executed. This vulnerability is fixed in kustomize-controller v0.23.0 and helm-controller v0.19.0, both included in flux2 v0.29.0","status":"published","published":"2025-12-02T17:36:53.808Z","modified":"2026-09-08T08:47:31.960066461Z","updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:28:29.999658Z"},{"id":"BIT-kustomize-2022-24817","title":"Improper kubeconfig validation allows arbitrary code execution","description":"Flux2 is an open and extensible continuous delivery solution for Kubernetes. Flux2 versions between 0.1.0 and 0.29.0, helm-controller 0.1.0 to v0.19.0, and kustomize-controller 0.1.0 to v0.23.0 are vulnerable to Code Injection via malicious Kubeconfig. In multi-tenancy deployments this can also lead to privilege escalation if the controller's service account has elevated permissions. Workarounds include disabling functionality via Validating Admission webhooks by restricting users from setting the `spec.kubeConfig` field in Flux `Kustomization` and `HelmRelease` objects. Additional mitigations include applying restrictive AppArmor and SELinux profiles on the controller’s pod to limit what binaries can be executed. This vulnerability is fixed in kustomize-controller v0.23.0 and helm-controller v0.19.0, both included in flux2 v0.29.0","status":"published","published":"2024-03-06T10:55:40.674Z","modified":"2026-09-08T08:48:08.243763753Z","updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:28:32.162822Z"}]}}