CVE-2024-52280: Github.com/rancher/steve Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-j5hq-5jcr-xwx7
CVSS 7.7
CWE-287 CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-52280 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.7) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Github.com/rancher/steve libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves github.com/rancher/steve's users can issue watch commands for arbitrary resources. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b.

CVE-2024-52280 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-52280
GHSA Identifier GHSA-j5hq-5jcr-xwx7
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.7
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Github.com/rancher/steve
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.7

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2024-52280

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

github.com/rancher/steve fixed: 0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b
Upgrade github.com/rancher/steve to 0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b
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 github.com/rancher/steve

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2024-52280, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/rancher/steve:

inspect dependencies for github.com/rancher/steve

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/rancher/steve in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b), 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. In Github.com/rancher/steve, 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

### Impact A vulnerability has been discovered in Steve API (Kubernetes API Translator) in which users can watch resources they are not allowed to access, when they have at least some generic permissions on the type. For example, a user who can get a single secret in a single namespace can get all secrets in every namespace. During a `watch` request for a single ID, the following occurs: - In the case of a watch request for a single resource, Steve API will return a partition with the requested resource in it. In other cases, it will check the user's access when constructing partitions. - When a watch request for a single resource is issued, instead of using a client which impersonates the user making the request, Steve API will use the admin client, which can read all resources. This allows any requester to see the contents of any object such as secret keys, signing certificates, API tokens. Please consult the associated [MITRE ATT&CK - Technique - Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078/003/) and [MITRE ATT&CK - Technique - Container and Resource Discovery](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1613/) for further information about this category of attack. ### Patches To address this issue, the fix introduces a change in the behavior of the Steve API. When issuing a `watch` request with an ID specified, the requester's permissions are now correctly honoured. This will deny events for objects the requester cannot actually access. Previously these events were returned unconditionally, allowing any requester to see the contents of any object. Patched versions include the following commits: | Branch | Commit | | -------- | ------- | | main | https://github.com/rancher/steve/commit/2175e090fe4b1e603a54e1cdc5148a2b1c11b4d9 | | release/v2.9 | https://github.com/rancher/steve/commit/6e30359c652333a49e229b2791c9b403d5ef81a9 | | release/v2.8 | https://github.com/rancher/steve/commit/c744f0b17b88ff5e2fcabc60841174d878ddc88e | ### Workarounds There are no workarounds for this issue. Users are recommended to upgrade, as soon as possible, to a version of Steve API/Rancher Manager which contains the fixes. ### References If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: - Reach out to the [SUSE Rancher Security team](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/security/policy) for security-related inquiries. - Open an issue in the [Rancher](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/issues/new/choose) repository. - Verify with our [support matrix](https://www.suse.com/suse-rancher/support-matrix/all-supported-versions/) and [product support lifecycle](https://www.suse.com/lifecycle/).

CVE-2024-52280 Affected Github.com/rancher/steve Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/rancher/steve
Go
< 0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b
0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-52280?
CVE-2024-52280 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/rancher/steve involving github.com/rancher/steve's users can issue watch commands for arbitrary resources under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Github.com/rancher/steve versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b across affected packages: github.com/rancher/steve.
What version fixes CVE-2024-52280?
Upgrading to 0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/rancher/steve affected?
Yes, github.com/rancher/steve is affected in releases prior to 0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b. Upgrade your dependency to 0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-52280?
CVE-2024-52280 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.7 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2024-52280?
CVE-2024-52280 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2024-52280?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/rancher/steve'. 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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-j5hq-5jcr-xwx7",
  "modified" : "2025-04-11T23:13:04Z",
  "published" : "2024-11-20T18:23:25Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-52280" ],
  "summary" : " github.com/rancher/steve's users can issue watch commands for arbitrary resources",
  "details" : "### Impact\nA vulnerability has been discovered in Steve API (Kubernetes API Translator) in which users can watch resources they are not allowed to access, when they have at least some generic permissions on the type. For example, a user who can get a single secret in a single namespace can get all secrets in every namespace.\n\nDuring a `watch` request for a single ID, the following occurs:\n- In the case of a watch request for a single resource, Steve API will return a partition with the requested resource in it. In other cases, it will check the user's access when constructing partitions.\n- When a watch request for a single resource is issued, instead of using a client which impersonates the user making the request, Steve API will use the admin client, which can read all resources.\n\nThis allows any requester to see the contents of any object such as secret keys, signing certificates, API tokens.\n\nPlease consult the associated  [MITRE ATT&CK - Technique - Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078/003/) and  [MITRE ATT&CK - Technique - Container and Resource Discovery](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1613/) for further information about this category of attack.\n\n### Patches\nTo address this issue, the fix introduces a change in the behavior of the Steve API.\n\nWhen issuing a `watch` request with an ID specified, the requester's permissions are now correctly honoured. This will deny events for objects the requester cannot actually access. Previously these events were returned unconditionally, allowing any requester to see the contents of any object.\n\nPatched versions include the following commits:\n\n| Branch    | Commit |\n| -------- | ------- |\n| main | https://github.com/rancher/steve/commit/2175e090fe4b1e603a54e1cdc5148a2b1c11b4d9 |\n| release/v2.9 | https://github.com/rancher/steve/commit/6e30359c652333a49e229b2791c9b403d5ef81a9 |\n| release/v2.8 | https://github.com/rancher/steve/commit/c744f0b17b88ff5e2fcabc60841174d878ddc88e |\n\n### Workarounds\nThere are no workarounds for this issue. Users are recommended to upgrade, as soon as possible, to a version of Steve API/Rancher Manager which contains the fixes.\n\n### References\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n- Reach out to the [SUSE Rancher Security team](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/security/policy) for security-related inquiries.\n- Open an issue in the [Rancher](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/issues/new/choose) repository.\n- Verify with our [support matrix](https://www.suse.com/suse-rancher/support-matrix/all-supported-versions/) and [product support lifecycle](https://www.suse.com/lifecycle/).",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/rancher/steve"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "0.0.0-20241029132712-2175e090fe4b"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rancher/steve/security/advisories/GHSA-j5hq-5jcr-xwx7"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-52280"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rancher/steve/commit/2175e090fe4b1e603a54e1cdc5148a2b1c11b4d9"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2024-52280"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rancher/steve"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2024-3281"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200", "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-11-20T18:23:25Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-04-11T12:15:14Z"
  }
}