CVE-2024-36542Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Cluster takeover via overprivileged service account token

Published Jul 25, 2024 · Updated Mar 13, 2025

Incorrect access control in Kuma 2.7.0 allows remote authenticated users to take over Kubernetes clusters via a stolen service account token. The Kubernetes deployment binds the kuma-control-plane service account to permissions that expose cluster Secrets, while its pod mounts the inherited credential. Exploitation requires control of a pod or worker node that can obtain the token; the token then permits Secret access and cluster-wide privilege escalation.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect access control in Kuma 2.7.0 allows remote authenticated users to take over Kubernetes clusters via a stolen service account token. The Kubernetes deployment binds the kuma-control-plane service account to permissions that expose cluster Secrets, while its pod mounts the inherited credential. Exploitation requires control of a pod or worker node that can obtain the token; the token then permits Secret access and cluster-wide privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-36542
Published
Jul 25, 2024
Updated
Mar 13, 2025
Vendor
Kong Inc.
Product
Kuma
Classifications
CWE-277, T1528
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 25, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 13, 2025Record 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=2.7.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Kong Inc. · Kumaversion=2.7.0

Published CVSS scores

8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-277Insecure Inherited Permissions
T1528Steal Application Access Token

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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