CVE-2024-3177 in kube-apiserver
Summary
by MITRE • 04/23/2024
A security issue was discovered in Kubernetes where users may be able to launch containers that bypass the mountable secrets policy enforced by the ServiceAccount admission plugin when using containers, init containers, and ephemeral containers with the envFrom field populated. The policy ensures pods running with a service account may only reference secrets specified in the service account’s secrets field. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if the ServiceAccount admission plugin and the kubernetes.io/enforce-mountable-secrets annotation are used together with containers, init containers, and ephemeral containers with the envFrom field populated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2024-3177 represents a critical authorization bypass in Kubernetes environments that undermines the fundamental security controls designed to protect sensitive information. This flaw specifically targets the ServiceAccount admission plugin functionality within Kubernetes, which is intended to enforce strict policies governing how pods can access secrets through service accounts. The issue manifests when containers, init containers, or ephemeral containers utilize the envFrom field to reference secrets, creating an unintended pathway for privilege escalation that circumvents the established mountable secrets policy. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege that Kubernetes implements through its admission control mechanisms, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data that should be restricted to specific service accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a gap in the validation logic of the ServiceAccount admission plugin when processing different container types within pod specifications. When the envFrom field is populated in containers, init containers, or ephemeral containers, the admission controller fails to properly enforce the mountable secrets policy that normally restricts pods to only reference secrets explicitly listed in the service account's secrets field. This discrepancy creates a vector where malicious actors can craft pod specifications that bypass the intended security boundaries, effectively allowing containers to access secrets that they would normally be prohibited from accessing. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple container types within pod specifications, amplifying the potential attack surface and making it more difficult to detect and remediate. According to CWE-284, this represents an improper access control vulnerability that allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to resources, while the ATT&CK framework would classify this under privilege escalation techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-3177 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of Kubernetes clusters that implement service account-based access controls. Organizations utilizing Kubernetes with the ServiceAccount admission plugin and the kubernetes.io/enforce-mountable-secrets annotation are at risk of data leakage, lateral movement, and potential system compromise. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive information such as API keys, database credentials, or other confidential data stored in secrets that should be restricted to specific service accounts. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments where different applications or teams share the same cluster but require strict separation of their sensitive data. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that this vulnerability affects the core admission control mechanism that Kubernetes relies on to enforce security policies, meaning that once exploited, it could allow attackers to escalate privileges and access resources beyond what was initially intended. Organizations may experience compliance violations and security breaches if this vulnerability is not addressed promptly, as it undermines the foundational security controls that protect against unauthorized access to sensitive information. The remediation process requires careful coordination with cluster administrators and may involve immediate patching of Kubernetes components, along with thorough auditing of existing pod specifications to identify and correct potentially vulnerable configurations.