CVE-2020-8554Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Cluster traffic interception via unverified Service IPs

Published Jan 21, 2021 · Updated Jun 1, 2026

Traffic interception in Kubernetes API server all versions allows remote authenticated users to hijack cluster traffic via Service fields. The Service API accepts caller-selected spec.externalIPs or status.loadBalancer.ingress.ip values without verifying ownership, and cluster networking routes matching traffic accordingly. Exploitation requires permission to create or update Services and Pods, or the more privileged ability to patch Service status, and exposes traffic from other Pods or nodes.

CVSS severity6.3
Medium
EPSS probability9.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Traffic interception in Kubernetes API server all versions allows remote authenticated users to hijack cluster traffic via Service fields. The Service API accepts caller-selected spec.externalIPs or status.loadBalancer.ingress.ip values without verifying ownership, and cluster networking routes matching traffic accordingly. Exploitation requires permission to create or update Services and Pods, or the more privileged ability to patch Service status, and exposes traffic from other Pods or nodes.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8554
Published
Jan 21, 2021
Updated
Jun 1, 2026
Vendor
Kubernetes
Product
Kubernetes
Classifications
CWE-283, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 21, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 1, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <*

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Kubernetes · Kubernetesversion=0 <*

Published CVSS scores

6.0NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
5.0NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
6.3Kubernetes CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-283Unverified Ownership
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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