CVE-2024-9486Network attack vector

Root access via persistent default builder credentials

Published Oct 15, 2024 · Updated Oct 16, 2024

Hard-coded credentials in Kubernetes Image Builder 0.1.37 and earlier allow remote attackers to gain root access to Proxmox-built nodes. The Proxmox image workflow leaves the default builder account credentials enabled after image construction instead of disabling the account. Exploitation requires a cluster node created from an affected Proxmox image and network-reachable SSH access to that node.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hard-coded credentials in Kubernetes Image Builder 0.1.37 and earlier allow remote attackers to gain root access to Proxmox-built nodes. The Proxmox image workflow leaves the default builder account credentials enabled after image construction instead of disabling the account. Exploitation requires a cluster node created from an affected Proxmox image and network-reachable SSH access to that node.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-9486
Published
Oct 15, 2024
Updated
Oct 16, 2024
Vendor
Kubernetes
Product
Image Builder
Classifications
CWE-798, T1078.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 15, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 16, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=0.1.37
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <0.1.38

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Kubernetes · Image Builderversion=0 <=0.1.37; version=0 <0.1.38

Published CVSS scores

9.3GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
9.8Kubernetes Security Response CommitteeCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1078.001Valid Accounts: Default Accounts

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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