CVE-2019-11244: K8s.io/client go Kubernetes Unsafe Cacheing Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-2575-pghm-6qqx
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CVSS 5.0
CWE-732 CWE-524
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-11244 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.0) kubernetes unsafe cacheing vulnerability (CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource) affecting K8s.io/client go libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves kubernetes unsafe cacheing. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.12.9.

CVE-2019-11244 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-11244
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2575-pghm-6qqx
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.0
CWE Classification CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
Affected Product K8s.io/client go
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.0

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2019-11244

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected K8s.io/client go dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

k8s.io/client-go fixed: 1.12.9 
Upgrade k8s.io/client-go to 1.12.9
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for k8s.io/client-go

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2019-11244, inspect your project dependencies for K8s.io/client go:

inspect dependencies for k8s.io/client-go

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of K8s.io/client go in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.12.9), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, where the product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors. In K8s.io/client go, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

In Kubernetes v1.8.x-v1.14.x, schema info is cached by kubectl in the location specified by `--cache-dir` (defaulting to `$HOME/.kube/http-cache`), written with world-writeable permissions (`rw-rw-rw-`). If `--cache-dir` is specified and pointed at a different location accessible to other users/groups, the written files may be modified by other users/groups and disrupt the kubectl invocation.

CVE-2019-11244 Affected K8s.io/client go Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.12.9
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
k8s.io/client-go
golang/k8s.io/client-go
Go
≥ 1.8.0
< 1.12.9
1.12.9

References

NVD — CVE-2019-11244 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-11244
K8s.io/client go Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/76676
K8s.io/client go Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/77874
K8s.io/client go Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/77874/commits/f228ae3364729caed59087e23c42868454bc3ff4
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/kubernetes/client-go/commit/790a4f63632139cf6731014d00a9a8338f1fbd7d
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2019:39... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3942
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2020:00... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0020
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2020:00... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0074
K8s.io/client go Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190509-0002
K8s.io/client go Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/108064

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-11244?
CVE-2019-11244 is a security vulnerability in K8s.io/client go involving Kubernetes Unsafe Cacheing under CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource.
Which K8s.io/client go versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.12.9 across affected packages: k8s.io/client-go.
What version fixes CVE-2019-11244?
Upgrading to 1.12.9 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is k8s.io/client-go affected?
Yes, k8s.io/client-go is affected in releases prior to 1.12.9. Upgrade your dependency to 1.12.9 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-11244?
CVE-2019-11244 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.0 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-11244?
CVE-2019-11244 is classified under CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource (The product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2019-11244?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for k8s.io/client-go'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-2575-pghm-6qqx",
  "modified" : "2023-09-18T20:18:54Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-15T01:57:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2019-11244" ],
  "summary" : "Kubernetes Unsafe Cacheing ",
  "details" : "In Kubernetes v1.8.x-v1.14.x, schema info is cached by kubectl in the location specified by `--cache-dir` (defaulting to `$HOME/.kube/http-cache`), written with world-writeable permissions (`rw-rw-rw-`). If `--cache-dir` is specified and pointed at a different location accessible to other users/groups, the written files may be modified by other users/groups and disrupt the kubectl invocation. ",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "k8s.io/client-go"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.8.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.12.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-11244"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/76676"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/77874"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/77874/commits/f228ae3364729caed59087e23c42868454bc3ff4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kubernetes/client-go/commit/790a4f63632139cf6731014d00a9a8338f1fbd7d"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3942"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0020"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0074"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190509-0002"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/108064"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-524", "CWE-732" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-05-07T17:22:21Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}