Kubernetes API Server JSON/YAML parsing vulnerable to resource exhaustion attack
Priority MEDIUM 54CWE-20Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 8 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat.
Summary
Improper input validation in the Kubernetes API server in versions v1.0-1.12 and versions prior to v1.13.12, v1.14.8, v1.15.5, and v1.16.2 allows authorized users to send malicious YAML or JSON payloads, causing the API server to consume excessive CPU or memory, potentially crashing and becoming unavailable. Prior to v1.14.0, default RBAC policy authorized anonymous users to submit requests that could trigger this vulnerability. Clusters upgraded from a version prior to v1.14.0 keep the more permissive policy by default for backwards compatibility.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.25939 97th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Kubernetes (Kubernetes): 1.13.12, 1.14.8, 1.15.5 +1k8s.io/kubernetes (Go): 1.13.12, 1.14.8, 1.15.5 +1Red Hat: 11 advisoriesRed Hat: 8 fixed, 2 without a fix
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes | Kubernetes | before 1.13.12; before 1.14.8; before 1.15.5; before 1.16.2; 1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; 1.10; 1.11; 1.12 | 1.13.12, 1.14.8, 1.15.5, 1.16.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) | 1.0.0 to before 1.13.12 | 1.13.12 | Patch available | GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78 |
| — | k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) | 1.14.0 to before 1.14.8 | 1.14.8 | Patch available | GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78 |
| — | k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) | 1.15.0 to before 1.15.5 | 1.15.5 | Patch available | GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78 |
| — | k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) | 1.16.0 to before 1.16.2 | 1.16.2 | Patch available | GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78 |
- Kubernetes VendorKubernetes Affected before 1.13.12; before 1.14.8; before 1.15.5; before 1.16.2; 1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; 1.10; 1.11; 1.12 Fixed in 1.13.12, 1.14.8, 1.15.5, 1.16.2 Patch available CNA
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) Vendor— Affected 1.0.0 to before 1.13.12 Fixed in 1.13.12 Patch available GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) Vendor— Affected 1.14.0 to before 1.14.8 Fixed in 1.14.8 Patch available GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) Vendor— Affected 1.15.0 to before 1.15.5 Fixed in 1.15.5 Patch available GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78
- k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) Vendor— Affected 1.16.0 to before 1.16.2 Fixed in 1.16.2 Patch available GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.1.0 – 1.12.10; 1.13.0 to before 1.13.12; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.8; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.5; 1.16.0 to before 1.16.2 | Vulnerable | Kubernetes |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.9 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.10 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.11 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1.0 – 1.12.10; 1.13.0 to before 1.13.12; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.8; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.5; 1.16.0 to before 1.16.2 Vulnerable ·Kubernetes
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.9 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.10 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.11 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Kubernetes (Kubernetes) Fixed in 1.13.12, 1.14.8, 1.15.5, 1.16.2
- Fix · GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78 k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) Fixed in 1.13.12 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78 k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) Fixed in 1.14.8 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78 k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) Fixed in 1.15.5 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78 k8s.io/kubernetes (Go) Fixed in 1.16.2 Advisory →
Red Hat 11 advisories
- RHSA-2022:2183 Released 2022-05-11 · Red Hat rating ModerateRelease of containers for OSP 16.2.z director operator tech preview
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.2 rhosp-rhel8-tech-preview/osp-director-operator
- RHSA-2020:2870 Released 2020-07-07 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 1.0 servicemesh-cni security update
- OpenShift Service Mesh 1.0 servicemesh-cni-1.0.11-1.el8
- RHSA-2020:2863 Released 2020-07-07 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 1.0 servicemesh-prometheus security update
- OpenShift Service Mesh 1.0 servicemesh-prometheus-2.7.2-36.el8
Show 8 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2020:2861 Released 2020-07-07 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 1.0 servicemesh-grafana security update
- OpenShift Service Mesh 1.0 servicemesh-grafana-6.2.2-38.el8, servicemesh-grafana-prometheus-6.2.2-38.el8
- RHSA-2020:2795 Released 2020-07-01 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 1.1 servicemesh-operator security update
- OpenShift Service Mesh 1.1 servicemesh-operator-1.1.4-3.el8
- RHSA-2020:2796 Released 2020-07-01 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat OpenShift Service Mesh servicemesh-grafana security update
- OpenShift Service Mesh 1.1 servicemesh-grafana-6.4.3-11.el8, servicemesh-grafana-prometheus-6.4.3-11.el8
- RHSA-2020:2799 Released 2020-07-01 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat OpenShift Service Mesh servicemesh-cni security update
- OpenShift Service Mesh 1.1 servicemesh-cni-1.1.4-2.el8
- RHSA-2019:3905 Released 2019-11-18 · Red Hat rating ImportantOpenShift Container Platform 3.11 atomic-openshift security update
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11 atomic-openshift-3.11.154-1.git.0.7a097ad.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-3.11.154-1.git.0.7a097ad.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable-3.11.154-1.git.0.7a097ad.el7 +10
- RHSA-2019:3811 Released 2019-11-07 · Red Hat rating ImportantOpenShift Container Platform 3.9 atomic-openshift security update
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.9 atomic-openshift-3.9.102-1.git.0.6411f52.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-3.9.102-1.git.0.6411f52.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable-3.9.102-1.git.0.6411f52.el7 +11
- RHSA-2019:3239 Released 2019-10-29 · Red Hat rating ImportantOpenShift Container Platform 3.10 atomic-openshift security update
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.10 atomic-openshift-3.10.181-1.git.0.3ab4b3d.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-3.10.181-1.git.0.3ab4b3d.el7, atomic-openshift-clients-redistributable-3.10.181-1.git.0.3ab4b3d.el7 +10
- RHSA-2019:3132 Released 2019-10-16 · Red Hat rating ImportantOpenShift Container Platform 4.1.20 openshift security update
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.1 openshift-4.1.20-201910101746.git.0.a80aad5.el7, openshift-4.1.20-201910101746.git.0.a80aad5.el8, openshift-clients-4.1.20-201910101746.git.0.a80aad5.el7 +5
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| OpenShift Service Mesh 1 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.2 | Affected | No fix yet |
| OpenShift Service Mesh 1.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2020:2861, RHSA-2020:2863, RHSA-2020:2870 |
| OpenShift Service Mesh 1.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2020:2795, RHSA-2020:2796, RHSA-2020:2799 |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.10 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3239 |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3905 |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.9 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3811 |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3132 |
| Red Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 1.0 | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2022:2183 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.2
- Red Hat Storage 3
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2019-11253
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78
References
Advisory 5
Other 6
- CVE-2019-11253: denial of service vulnerability from malicious YAML or JSON payloads
- https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/83261
- https://gist.github.com/bgeesaman/0e0349e94cd22c48bf14d8a9b7d6b8f2
- https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/kubernetes-security-announce/jk8polzSUxs
- https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2022-0703
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20191031-0006
More Kubernetes vulnerabilities
- TI-2018-16130 Improper privilege management in Kubernetes CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2019-08418 Kubernetes kubelet exposes /debug/pprof info on healthz port CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
- TI-2023-05086 Kubernetes - Windows nodes - Insufficient input sanitization in in-tree storage plugin leads to privilege escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-03433 Kubernetes - Windows nodes - Insufficient input sanitization leads to privilege escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-02285 Bypass of seccomp profile enforcement CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
- TI-2017-14755 Link following in Kubernetes CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.6
Sources
- CVE-2019-11253 · CVE Program
- CVE-2019-11253 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-pmqp-h87c-mr78 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2019-11253 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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