CVE-2026-18382 in Cost Management Metrics Operator
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
A flaw was found in koku-metrics-operator. The operator's CostManagementMetricsConfig custom resource allows a user able to edit the CR to specify an arbitrary OAuth token endpoint. When authentication.type is set to service-account, the operator sends the tenant's Red Hat SSO client_id and client_secret to this user-controlled URL, allowing the attacker to obtain the credentials.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability exists within the koku-metrics-operator, a component responsible for managing cost metrics in Red Hat OpenShift environments. The flaw resides in the CostManagementMetricsConfig custom resource implementation where improper validation allows unauthorized users with edit permissions to manipulate the OAuth token endpoint configuration. When the authentication.type is configured to service-account, the operator performs an authentication flow that includes sending sensitive tenant credentials to a user-defined URL, creating a critical security risk.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and trust assumptions within the operator's configuration handling mechanism. The CostManagementMetricsConfig custom resource does not properly validate or sanitize the token endpoint URL provided by users, allowing arbitrary URLs to be specified. This design flaw enables attackers to redirect the authentication flow to malicious endpoints where they can capture the client_id and client_secret credentials that are transmitted during the service-account authentication process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with direct access to tenant Red Hat SSO credentials that can be used for unauthorized access to multiple systems. The compromise of these credentials enables lateral movement within the organization's infrastructure, potential data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to cloud resources managed through Red Hat OpenShift platforms. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation and CWE-352 - Cross-Site Request Forgery, creating a dangerous combination where authentication credentials are exposed to untrusted parties.
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by first gaining edit permissions on the CostManagementMetricsConfig custom resource, then modifying the token endpoint to point to a malicious server they control. Once configured, any authentication attempts using service-account type will result in credential exposure. This attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 - Phishing for Information and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it leverages legitimate authentication flows to obtain credentials rather than brute force or other direct attack methods.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strict input validation for the token endpoint configuration parameter, requiring that URLs conform to predefined trusted domains or using a whitelist approach. The operator should enforce authentication.type service-account configurations to only allow specific, validated endpoints and implement additional security controls such as certificate pinning or mutual TLS verification. Organizations should also implement least privilege access controls to limit who can edit the CostManagementMetricsConfig resources and conduct regular audit reviews of these configurations to detect unauthorized modifications.
The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure configuration management in Kubernetes operators and demonstrates how seemingly simple configuration parameters can create critical security exposure points. Security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring for changes to custom resource configurations and establish automated validation processes that prevent potentially malicious endpoint configurations from being applied to production systems. This incident underscores the need for defense-in-depth approaches where multiple layers of security controls work together to protect against credential exposure attacks.