A recently discovered security vulnerability, CVE-2024-9042, poses a significant risk to Kubernetes clusters running Windows worker nodes. Rated Medium with a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.9, the flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the host machine by exploiting the node’s /logs endpoint.
The vulnerability resides in the Kubelet component of Kubernetes and is specific to Windows worker nodes. Attackers with the ability to query a node’s /logs endpoint can craft malicious inputs to exploit the vulnerability, gaining command execution privileges on the host.
Organizations are advised to assess their Kubernetes environments for the following conditions:
- Component: Kubelet
- Affected Versions:
- v1.32.0
- v1.31.0 to v1.31.4
- v1.30.0 to v1.30.8
- <=v1.29.12
Clusters running any of the affected versions on Windows worker nodes are at risk.
To safeguard your systems, upgrade the Kubelet on your Windows worker nodes to the following patched versions:
- v1.32.1
- v1.31.5
- v1.30.9
- v1.29.13
It is recommended to update promptly to prevent potential exploitation.
System administrators can detect potential exploitation by examining cluster audit logs for unusual or suspicious queries targeting the /logs endpoint. Pay close attention to entries with inputs that deviate from expected usage patterns.
While CVE-2024-9042 has a Medium severity rating, its potential impact on Kubernetes environments makes mitigation a priority.
Organizations leveraging Kubernetes for Windows worker nodes must act promptly to apply the necessary fixes and prevent malicious exploitation.
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