Read the docs
TI-2026-24770 Aliases CVE-2026-32241GHSA-vchx-5pr6-ffx2

Flannel vulnerable to cross-node remote code execution via extension backend BackendData injection

Priority MEDIUM 45CWE-77Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-77.

Summary

Flannel is a network fabric for containers, designed for Kubernetes. The Flannel project includes an experimental Extension backend that allows users to easily prototype new backend types. In versions of Flannel prior to 0.28.2, this Extension backend is vulnerable to a command injection that allows an attacker who can set Kubernetes Node annotations to achieve root-level arbitrary command execution on every flannel node in the cluster. The Extension backend's SubnetAddCommand and SubnetRemoveCommand receive attacker-controlled data via stdin (from the `flannel.alpha.coreos.com/backend-data` Node annotation). The content of this annotation is unmarshalled and piped directly to a shell command without checks. Kubernetes clusters using Flannel with the Extension backend are affected by this vulnerability. Other backends such as vxlan and wireguard are unaffected. The vulnerability is fixed in version v0.28.2. As a workaround, use Flannel with another backend such as vxlan or wireguard.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.02757 86th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed flannel (flannel-io): 0.28.2github.com/flannel-io/flannel (Go): 0.28.2

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
flannel-ioflannelbefore 0.28.20.28.2Patch availableCNA
—github.com/flannel-io/flannel (Go)before 0.28.20.28.2Patch availableGHSA-vchx-5pr6-ffx2
  • flannel Vendorflannel-io Affected before 0.28.2 Fixed in 0.28.2 Patch available CNA
  • github.com/flannel-io/flannel (Go) Vendor— Affected before 0.28.2 Fixed in 0.28.2 Patch available GHSA-vchx-5pr6-ffx2

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:flannel-io:flannel:*:*:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*before 0.28.2Vulnerableflannel-io
  • cpe:2.3:a:flannel-io:flannel:*:*:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:* Versions before 0.28.2 Vulnerable ·flannel-io

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA flannel (flannel-io) Fixed in 0.28.2
  • Fix · GHSA-vchx-5pr6-ffx2 github.com/flannel-io/flannel (Go) Fixed in 0.28.2 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-32241
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vchx-5pr6-ffx2

References

Sources