CVE-2020-35514

Bootstrap credential disclosure via permissive kubeconfig permissions

Published Jun 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Incorrect permissions in Red Hat OpenShift Machine Config Operator before 4.7.0-202105111858.p0 allow local users to copy bootstrap credentials. The operator creates /etc/kubernetes/kubeconfig with overly permissive mode bits instead of the intended 0640, exposing its short-lived bootstrap certificate. Exploitation requires node access or a container mounting /etc/kubernetes within the certificate's first 24 hours; a rogue node still requires manual CSR approval by default.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect permissions in Red Hat OpenShift Machine Config Operator before 4.7.0-202105111858.p0 allow local users to copy bootstrap credentials. The operator creates /etc/kubernetes/kubeconfig with overly permissive mode bits instead of the intended 0640, exposing its short-lived bootstrap certificate. Exploitation requires node access or a container mounting /etc/kubernetes within the certificate's first 24 hours; a rogue node still requires manual CSR approval by default.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-35514
Published
Jun 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Red Hat
Product
OpenShift Machine Config Operator
Classifications
CWE-266, T1552.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 2, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=Unspecified

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Red Hat · OpenShift Machine Config Operatorversion=Unspecified

Published CVSS scores

7.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-266Incorrect Privilege Assignment
T1552.004Unsecured Credentials: Private Keys

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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