CVE-2024-5042 in submariner-operator
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
A flaw was found in the Submariner project. Due to unnecessary role-based access control permissions, a privileged attacker can run a malicious container on a node that may allow them to steal service account tokens and further compromise other nodes and potentially the entire cluster.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5042 resides within the Submariner project, an open-source networking solution designed to enable secure communication between Kubernetes clusters. This flaw represents a critical access control weakness that undermines the fundamental security boundaries of containerized environments. The issue manifests through excessive role-based access control permissions that are improperly configured within the Submariner deployment, creating an exploitable vector for malicious actors who have already gained some level of access to the system. The vulnerability's severity stems from its potential to escalate privileges and facilitate lateral movement across cluster components, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant or production environments where cluster isolation is paramount for security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the misconfiguration of Kubernetes RBAC policies within the Submariner components, specifically in how the project handles permissions for privileged operations. Attackers can exploit this flaw by leveraging their existing access to execute malicious containers on worker nodes with elevated privileges. This occurs because the Submariner service accounts are granted broader permissions than necessary for their legitimate operational functions, including capabilities that extend beyond the minimum required for network connectivity management. The excessive permissions enable attackers to manipulate node-level processes and access sensitive cluster resources that should remain restricted to authorized components only.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-5042 extends far beyond the initial compromise, as it provides attackers with the capability to harvest service account tokens from compromised nodes. These tokens serve as critical credentials for accessing other cluster components and resources, enabling attackers to move laterally throughout the Kubernetes environment. The vulnerability creates a domino effect where a single compromised node can lead to complete cluster takeover, as stolen tokens can be used to access other services, pods, and potentially even the control plane components. This type of attack aligns with the attack technique described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1563.002 (Steal or Forge Kubernetes API Credentials) and represents a significant deviation from the principle of least privilege that should govern all cluster operations.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe in environments where Kubernetes clusters serve as the foundation for microservices architectures and cloud-native applications. The excessive permissions granted to Submariner components create an attack surface that can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors. Organizations relying on Submariner for cross-cluster networking may experience complete loss of cluster integrity, as attackers can leverage stolen tokens to access sensitive data, disrupt services, and potentially exfiltrate information from other parts of the infrastructure. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-276 (Insecure Default Permissions) and CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource) as it demonstrates how improper permission assignments can create persistent security weaknesses that undermine the entire cluster security model.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5042 require immediate attention to RBAC configurations and should include the implementation of strict permission boundaries for Submariner components. Organizations must review and restrict the service account permissions for all Submariner deployments to ensure they operate with the minimal required privileges. This includes removing unnecessary cluster-wide permissions and implementing pod-level restrictions that prevent privilege escalation. The remediation process should involve auditing existing RBAC policies, implementing proper role separation, and ensuring that service accounts are configured with the principle of least privilege in mind. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized access patterns and token usage anomalies, as these indicators may signal exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of container orchestration platforms and adherence to Kubernetes security best practices, including the implementation of network policies and runtime security controls, are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the infrastructure stack.