CVE-2026-55226

Protected-resource access via overprivileged service account

Published Sep 15, 2026 · Updated Sep 15, 2026

Privilege mismanagement in Strimzi Kafka Operator 1.0.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to access protected Kubernetes resources. When a Kafka custom resource deploys only one Entity Operator component, its ServiceAccount retains RBAC permissions assigned to both the Topic and User Operators. A principal able to use that ServiceAccount can access KafkaUser resources and Secrets without the User Operator, or KafkaTopic resources without the Topic Operator.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege mismanagement in Strimzi Kafka Operator 1.0.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to access protected Kubernetes resources. When a Kafka custom resource deploys only one Entity Operator component, its ServiceAccount retains RBAC permissions assigned to both the Topic and User Operators. A principal able to use that ServiceAccount can access KafkaUser resources and Secrets without the User Operator, or KafkaTopic resources without the Topic Operator.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-55226
Published
Sep 15, 2026
Updated
Sep 15, 2026
Vendor
Strimzi
Product
Strimzi Kafka Operator
Classifications
CWE-269, CWE-272, T1552.007
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 15, 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=< 1.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Strimzi · Strimzi Kafka Operatorversion=< 1.0.1

Published CVSS scores

5.4GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N

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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
CWE-272Least Privilege Violation
T1552.007Unsecured Credentials: Container API

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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