CVE-2026-1531 in Satellite
Summary
by MITRE • 02/02/2026
A flaw was found in foreman_kubevirt. When configuring the connection to OpenShift, the system disables SSL verification if a Certificate Authority (CA) certificate is not explicitly set. This insecure default allows a remote attacker, capable of intercepting network traffic between Satellite and OpenShift, to perform a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack. Such an attack could lead to the disclosure or alteration of sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-1531 resides within the foreman_kubevirt component of the Red Hat Satellite platform, specifically affecting how the system handles SSL certificate validation when establishing connections to OpenShift environments. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of communications between Satellite and OpenShift clusters. The issue manifests when administrators configure kubevirt compute resources without explicitly providing a Certificate Authority certificate, causing the system to automatically disable SSL verification mechanisms. This insecure default configuration creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the security posture of managed OpenShift environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation within the foreman_kubevirt plugin. When no explicit CA certificate is provided during OpenShift connection setup, the system defaults to disabling SSL verification entirely, which violates fundamental security principles outlined in industry standards such as CWE-295. This behavior creates a dangerous operational context where network traffic between Satellite and OpenShift can be intercepted and manipulated without detection. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security level, specifically targeting the SSL/TLS handshake process and certificate validation routines that should normally ensure secure communication channels.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant risks including data exfiltration, command injection, and unauthorized access to managed OpenShift resources. An attacker positioned to intercept network traffic between Satellite and OpenShift can execute successful MITM attacks, potentially gaining access to sensitive configuration data, user credentials, and operational information. The attack vector requires only network interception capabilities and does not necessitate complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network security controls may be insufficient. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1046, Network Service Scanning, and T1566, Phishing, as attackers can leverage the compromised communication channel for further lateral movement.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by ensuring all kubevirt compute resource configurations explicitly specify Certificate Authority certificates during OpenShift connection setup. The recommended approach involves configuring proper SSL certificate validation through the use of trusted CA certificates, which prevents the automatic disabling of SSL verification. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of all foreman_kubevirt configurations to identify and remediate any existing instances where SSL verification has been disabled due to missing CA certificates. Additionally, network segmentation and traffic monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential MITM activities, while regular security assessments should verify that SSL/TLS configurations remain properly enforced throughout the infrastructure lifecycle.