CVE-2024-56513: Karmada PULL Mode Cluster Privilege Escalation

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2024-56513 is a high (CVSS 8.7) Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability in karmada-io karmada. EPSS estimates a 0.49% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 41.2% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 03-01-2025
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 03-01-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Karmada is a Kubernetes management system that allows users to run cloud-native applications across multiple Kubernetes clusters and clouds. Prior to version 1.12.0, the PULL mode clusters registered with the `karmadactl register` command have excessive privileges to access control plane resources. By abusing these permissions, an attacker able to authenticate as the karmada-agent to a karmada cluster would be able to obtain administrative privileges over the entire federation system including all registered member clusters. Since Karmada v1.12.0, command `karmadactl register` restricts the access permissions of pull mode member clusters to control plane resources. This way, an attacker able to authenticate as the karmada-agent cannot control other member clusters in Karmada. As a workaround, one may restrict the access permissions of pull mode member clusters to control plane resources according to Karmada Component Permissions Docs.

• CWE-266Incorrect Privilege AssignmentA product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.