Improper privilege management in cloud-init
Priority MEDIUM 42CWE-269Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
An privilege elevation vulnerability exists in Cloud-init before 0.7.0 when requests to an untrusted system are submitted for EC2 instance data.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.02049 81st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed cloud-init (cloud-init): 0.7.0
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cloud-init | cloud-init | before 0.7.0 | 0.7.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- cloud-init Vendorcloud-init Affected before 0.7.0 Fixed in 0.7.0 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:canonical:cloud-init:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 0.7.0 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11 sp2 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11 sp3 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
- cpe:2.3:a:canonical:cloud-init:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 0.7.0 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11 sp2 Vulnerable ·SUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11 sp3 Vulnerable ·SUSE
Remediation
- Fix · CNA cloud-init (cloud-init) Fixed in 0.7.0
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 3
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2012-6639
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-53qp-p4j3-jj3w
References
Sources
- CVE-2012-6639 · CVE Program
- CVE-2012-6639 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-53qp-p4j3-jj3w · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2012-6639 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences