Rancher: Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness
CVE-2026-41052 is a high-severity authentication bypass by primary weakness vulnerability in Rancher from SUSE, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 2.12.10, 2.13.6, 2.14.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating Rancher to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.42% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Rancher to 2.12.10 or 2.13.6 or 2.14.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE | Rancher | 2.12.0 up to, but not including, 2.12.10; 2.13.0 up to, but not including, 2.13.6; 2.14.0 up to, but not including, 2.14.2 | 2.12.10, 2.13.6, 2.14.2 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 9.4 | Critical | CNA (suse.de) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
Improper privilege handling could be used by users with Project Owner role to escalate privileges, in Rancher versions 2.14 before 2.14.2, 2.13 before 2.13.6, and 2.12 before 2.12.10.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness
The authentication algorithm is sound, but the implemented mechanism can be bypassed as the result of a separate weakness that is primary to the authentication error.
More Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness vulnerabilities (CWE-305)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Rancher
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.9 High severity
- 8.5 High severity
Recent Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness vulnerabilities
- 8.7 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
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