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When an Apache CloudStack user-account creates a CKS...

High severity Unreviewed Published Jun 11, 2025 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Jun 11, 2025

Package

No package listedSuggest a package

Affected versions

Unknown

Patched versions

Unknown

Description

When an Apache CloudStack user-account creates a CKS-based Kubernetes cluster in a project, the API key and the secret key of the 'kubeadmin' user of the caller account are used to create the secret config in the CKS-based Kubernetes cluster. A member of the project who can access the CKS-based Kubernetes cluster, can also access the API key and secret key of the 'kubeadmin' user of the CKS cluster's creator's account. An attacker who's a member of the project can exploit this to impersonate and perform privileged actions that can result in complete compromise of the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of resources owned by the creator's account.

CKS users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.19.3.0 or 4.20.1.0, which fixes this issue.Updating Existing Kubernetes Clusters in ProjectsA service account should be created for each project to provide limited access specifically for Kubernetes cluster providers and autoscaling. Follow the steps below to create a new service account, update the secret inside the cluster, and regenerate existing API and service keys:1. Create a New Service AccountCreate a new account using the role "Project Kubernetes Service Role" with the following details:

Account Name
kubeadmin-<FIRST_EIGHT_CHARACTERS_OF_PROJECT_ID>
First Name
Kubernetes
Last Name
Service User
Account Type
0 (Normal User)
Role ID
<ID_OF_SERVICE_ROLE>

  1. Add the Service Account to the ProjectAdd this account to the project where the Kubernetes cluster(s) are hosted.
  2. Generate API and Secret KeysGenerate API Key and Secret Key for the default user of this account.
  3. Update the CloudStack Secret in the Kubernetes ClusterCreate a temporary file /tmp/cloud-config with the following data:
       api-url = <API_URL>     # For example: <MS_URL>/client/api
      api-key = <SERVICE_USER_API_KEY>
      secret-key = <SERVICE_USER_SECRET_KEY>
      project-id = <PROJECT_ID>

Delete the existing secret using kubectl and Kubernetes cluster config:
   ./kubectl --kubeconfig kube.conf -n kube-system delete secret cloudstack-secret

Create a new secret using kubectl and Kubernetes cluster config:
    ./kubectl --kubeconfig kube.conf -n kube-system create secret generic cloudstack-secret --from-file=/tmp/cloud-config

Remove the temporary file:
    rm /tmp/cloud-config5. Regenerate API and Secret KeysRegenerate the API and secret keys for the original user account that was used to create the Kubernetes cluster.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Jun 10, 2025
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Jun 11, 2025
Last updated Jun 11, 2025

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(18th percentile)

Weaknesses

Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor

The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2025-26521

GHSA ID

GHSA-r5jq-h47c-74h3

Source code

No known source code

Dependabot alerts are not supported on this advisory because it does not have a package from a supported ecosystem with an affected and fixed version.

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