CVE-2019-11254
Kubernetes API Server denial of service vulnerability from malicious YAML payloads
CVE-2019-11254 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Kubernetes, published April 1, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 3.16%, the 88th percentile. Fixed in gopkg.in/yaml.v2 2.2.8.
- Severity
- 6.5 MediumCVSS 3.1, CVE List
- Exploit chance
- 3.16%EPSS, 88th percentile
- Exploitation
- None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
- Fixed in
2.2.8gopkg.in/yaml.v2 +30 more
Description
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
gopkg.in/yaml.v2Go | before 2.2.8 | 2.2.8 |
github.com/go-yaml/yamlGo | through 2.1.0 | None known |
packerAzure Linux:3 | through 1.9.5-24 | None known |
podmanAzure Linux:3 | before 5.6.1-2 | 5.6.1-2 |
buildahAzure Linux:3 | before 1.41.4-2 | 1.41.4-2 |
delveAzure Linux:3 | through 1.5.0-16 | None known |
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 |
github.com/go-yaml/yamlGo | All versions | None known |
Show 21 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
openshiftRed Hat:openshift:4.5::el7 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs | before 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el7 | 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el7 |
openshift-hyperkubeRed Hat:openshift:4.5::el7 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs | before 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el7 | 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el7 |
openshiftRed Hat:openshift:4.5::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs | before 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el8 | 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el8 |
openshift-hyperkubeRed Hat:openshift:4.5::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs | before 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el8 | 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el8 |
machine-config-daemonRed Hat:openshift:4.5::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs | before 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.2527.d12c3da.el8 | 0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.2527.d12c3da.el8 |
atomic-openshiftRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-clientsRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-clients-redistributableRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-docker-excluderRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-excluderRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-hyperkubeRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-hypershiftRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-masterRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-nodeRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-podRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-sdn-ovsRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-template-service-brokerRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
atomic-openshift-testsRed Hat:openshift:3.11::el7 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs | before 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 | 0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7 |
etcdopenSUSE:Tumbleweed | before 3.5.2-1.1 | 3.5.2-1.1 |
etcdSUSE:Package Hub 15 SP6 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs | before 3.5.12-bp156.4.3.1 | 3.5.12-bp156.4.3.1 |
etcdopenSUSE:Leap 15.6 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs | before 3.5.12-bp156.4.3.1 | 3.5.12-bp156.4.3.1 |
What each source reports
CVE List Score used 6.5
Kubernetes API Server denial of service vulnerability from malicious YAML payloads
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
CVE-2019-11254- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-1050
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-2608 6.5
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
EUVD-2021-2608- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-wxc4-f4m6-wwqv 6.5
Excessive Platform Resource Consumption within a Loop in Kubernetes
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
GHSA-wxc4-f4m6-wwqv- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-1050
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD 6.5
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
CVE-2019-11254- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 4.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-1050
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVAZL-41568 6.5
CVE-2019-11254 affecting package packer 1.9.5-24
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
AZL-41568- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-13
OSVAZL-44445 6.5
CVE-2019-11254 affecting package podman for versions less than 5.6.1-2
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
AZL-44445- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 11 moreShow less
OSVAZL-44808 6.5
CVE-2019-11254 affecting package buildah for versions less than 1.41.4-2
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
AZL-44808- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVAZL-44904 6.5
CVE-2019-11254 affecting package delve 1.5.0-16
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
AZL-44904- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-05
OSV 6.5
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
CVE-2019-11254- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2019-11254 6.5
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2019-11254- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-wxc4-f4m6-wwqv 6.5
Excessive Platform Resource Consumption within a Loop in Kubernetes
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
GHSA-wxc4-f4m6-wwqv- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-1050
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2020:2413 7.5
Red Hat Security Advisory: OpenShift Container Platform 4.5 package security update
- Record
RHSA-2020:2413- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-13
OSVRHSA-2020:2479 6.5
Red Hat Security Advisory: OpenShift Container Platform 3.11 atomic-openshift security update
- Record
RHSA-2020:2479- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-13
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2019-11254 6.5
The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2019-11254- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGO-2020-0036No score
Excessive resource consumption in YAML parsing in gopkg.in/yaml.v2
Due to unbounded aliasing, a crafted YAML file can cause consumption of significant system resources. If parsing user supplied input, this may be used as a denial of service vector.
- Record
GO-2020-0036- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11911-1No score
etcd-3.5.2-1.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the etcd-3.5.2-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11911-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2025:0003-1No score
Security update for etcd
This update for etcd fixes the following issues:
Update to version 3.5.12:
- Bump golang.org/x/crypto to v0.17+ to address CVE-2023-48795
- test: fix TestHashKVWhenCompacting: ensure all goroutine finished
- print error log when creating peer listener failed
- mvcc: Printing etcd backend database related metrics inside scheduleCompaction function
- dependency: update go version to 1.20.13
- commit bbolt transaction if there is any pending deleting operations
- add tests to test tx delete consistency.
- Don't flock snapshot files
- Backport adding digest for etcd base image.
- Add a unit tests and missing flags in etcd help.
- Add missing flag in etcd help.
- Backport testutils.ExecuteUntil to 3.5 branch
- member replace e2e test
- Check if be is nil to avoid panic when be is overriden with nil by recoverSnapshotBackend on line 517
- Don't redeclare err and snapshot variable, fixing validation of consistent index and closing database on defer
- test: enable gofail in release e2e test.
- [3.5] backport health check e2e tests.
- tests: Extract e2e cluster setup to separate package
Update to version 3.5.11:
- etcdserver: add linearizable_read check to readyz.
- etcd: Update go version to 1.20.12
- server: disable redirects in peer communication
- etcdserver: add metric counters for livez/readyz health checks.
- etcdserver: add livez and ready http endpoints for etcd.
- http health check bug fixes
- server: Split metrics and health code
- server: Cover V3 health with tests
- server: Refactor health checks
- server: Run health check tests in subtests
- server: Rename test case expect fields
- server: Use named struct initialization in healthcheck test
- Backport server: Don't follow redirects when checking peer urls.
- Backport embed: Add tracing integration test.
- Backport server: Have tracingExporter own resources it initialises.
- Backport server: Add sampling rate to distributed tracing.
- upgrade github.com/stretchr/testify,google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/api,google.golang.org/grpc to make it consistent
- CVE-2023-47108: Backport go.opentelemetry.io/otel@v1.20.0 and go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/google.golang.org/grpc/otelgrpc@v0.46.0
- github workflow: run arm64 tests on every push
- etcd: upgrade go version from 1.20.10 to 1.20.11
- bump bbolt to 1.3.8 for etcd 3.5
- 3.5: upgrade gRPC-go to 1.58.3
- Backport corrupt check test fix 'etcd server shouldn't wait for the ready notification infinitely on startup'
- etcdserver: add cluster id check for hashKVHandler
- [release-3.5]: upgrade gRPC-go to v1.52.0
- backport #14125 to release-3.5: Update to grpc-1.47 (and fix the connection-string format)
- Return to default write scheduler since golang.org/x/net@v0.11.0 started using round robin
- Bump go to v1.20.10 Part of https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/issues/16740
- bump golang.org/x/net to 0.17.0 Part of https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/issues/16740
- etcd: upgrade go version to 1.20.9
- Remove obsolete http 1.0 version.
- fix:Ensure that go version is only defined in one file for release-3.5
- Fix panic in etcd validate secure endpoints
- dependency: bump golang to 1.20.8
- Backport redirect metrics data into file to reduce output.
- test.sh: increase timeout for grpcproxy test
- test: add v3 curl test to cover maintenance hash/hashkv REST API
- api: fix duplicate gateway url issue
- pkg: add a verification on the pagebytes which must be > 0
- tests: Backport deflake for TestWatchDelay
- tests: Backport deflake for TestPageWriterRandom
- Backport adding unit test for socket options.
- Backport export reuse-port and reuse-address
- Fix goword failure in rafthttp/transport.go.
- Backport update to golang 1.20 minor release.
- bump go version to 1.19.12
- Update workflows to use makefile recipes for unit, integration & e2e-release.
- Backport Makefile recipes for common test…
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2025:0003-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | OSV | |
| affected | ||
| facts | OSV | |
| affected | ||
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
References
github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/89535
groups.google.com/d/msg/kubernetes-announce/ALL9s73E5ck/4yHe8J-PBAAJ
security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200413-0003
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-11254
github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/87467/commits/b86df2bec4f377afc0ca03482ffad2f0a49a83b8
github.com/go-yaml/yaml/commit/53403b58ad1b561927d19068c655246f2db79d48
Show 50 moreShow less
github.com/go-yaml/yaml/pull/555
bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=18496
pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2020-0036
github.com/advisories/GHSA-wxc4-f4m6-wwqv
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2019-11254
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:2413
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1795838
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1819486
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1843358
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2020/rhsa-2020_2413.json
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-11252
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1860158
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-11252
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-11252
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-11254
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-11254
groups.google.com/forum
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-8558
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8558
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8558
groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/B1VegbBDMTE
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-8945
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8945
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8945
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-9283
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1804533
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-9283
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-9283
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:2479
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1706826
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1821583
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2020/rhsa-2020_2479.json
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-18367
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-18367
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-18367
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-8555
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8555
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8555
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-11254
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-11254
lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/security-announce@lists.opensuse.org/thread/PE3D4WEFUCELLDKJUEM2KLPFMME7KTAI
bugzilla.suse.com/1174951
bugzilla.suse.com/1181400
bugzilla.suse.com/1183703
bugzilla.suse.com/1199031
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-15106
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-28235
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-47108
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-48795
Left out here: the rest of 1 source description. The JSON record has them.