Cluster-curator-controller: cluster-curator-controller: namespace admin can escalate to…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- 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 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-266.
Summary
A flaw was found in the Multicluster Engine for Kubernetes ClusterCurator controller. A tenant administrator with namespace-scoped privileges can exploit this vulnerability by creating a namespaced ClusterCurator. This action inadvertently grants the tenant administrator the ability to mint a token for a ServiceAccount with cluster-wide administrative authority. This leads to a privilege escalation, allowing the tenant administrator to gain full control over the cluster.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat | multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.1 | — | 1787201612 | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.11 | — | 1787238383 | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.6 | — | 1787264185 | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.8 | — | 1787259011 | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.9 | — | 1787201646 | Patch available | CNA |
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.1 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 1787201612 Patch available CNA
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.11 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 1787238383 Patch available CNA
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.6 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 1787264185 Patch available CNA
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 1787259011 Patch available CNA
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 1787201646 Patch available CNA
CPE names CNA · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.10::el9 | 2.10 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.11::el9 | 2.11 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.6::el9 | 2.6 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.8::el9 | 2.8 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.9::el9 | 2.9 | — | Red Hat |
- cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.10::el9 Versions 2.10 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.11::el9 Versions 2.11 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.6::el9 Versions 2.6 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.8::el9 Versions 2.8 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:multicluster_engine:2.9::el9 Versions 2.9 — ·Red Hat
Remediation
Red Hat 5 advisories
- RHSA-2026:59579 Released 2026-08-25 · Red Hat rating Importantmulticluster engine for Kubernetes v2.6.14 security update
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.6 registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/addon-manager-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/cluster-curator-controller-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/cluster-image-set-controller-rhel9 +17
- RHSA-2026:59559 Released 2026-08-25 · Red Hat rating Importantmulticluster engine for Kubernetes v2.9.7 security update
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.9 registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/addon-manager-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/cluster-curator-controller-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/cluster-image-set-controller-rhel9 +15
- RHSA-2026:59558 Released 2026-08-25 · Red Hat rating Importantmulticluster engine for Kubernetes v2.8.10 security update
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.8 registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/addon-manager-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/backplane-rhel9-operator, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/cluster-api-provider-agent-rhel9 +20
Show 2 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2026:59557 Released 2026-08-25 · Red Hat rating Importantmulticluster engine for Kubernetes v2.10.6 security update
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.10 registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/addon-manager-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/cluster-curator-controller-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/cluster-image-set-controller-rhel9 +16
- RHSA-2026:59556 Released 2026-08-25 · Red Hat rating Importantmulticluster engine for Kubernetes v2.11.6 security update
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.11 registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/addon-manager-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/cluster-curator-controller-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/multicluster-engine/cluster-image-set-controller-rhel9 +14
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59557 |
| multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.11 | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59556 |
| multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.6 | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59579 |
| multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.8 | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59558 |
| multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.9 | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59559 |
Not affected: 5 products
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.1
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.11
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.6
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.8
- multicluster engine for Kubernetes 2.9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-10059
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f7c4-3r82-969w
- 2026-10-24 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
References
More Red Hat vulnerabilities
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- TI-2018-16080 A code execution vulnerability exists in the Stapler web framework used by Jenkins 2.153… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-10059 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-10059 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f7c4-3r82-969w · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-10059 · 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