Red Hat OpenShift for Windows Containers 10.19: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2026-54099 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in Red Hat OpenShift for Windows Containers 10.19 from Red Hat, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.13% 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 Openshift Container Platform to 4.22.1 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on access.redhat.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift for Windows Containers 10.19 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift for Windows Containers 10.20 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift for Windows Containers 10.21 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift for Windows Containers 10.22 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift for Windows Containers 11.0 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Openshift Container Platform | 4.0 up to, but not including, 4.22.1 | 4.22.1 |
| Red Hat | Windows Machine Config Operator | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
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
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- 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
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (redhat.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | CNA (redhat.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | CNA |
Official description
A flaw was found in the Windows Machine Config Operator (WMCO) for Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform. The WICD CSR auto-approver validates that a Certificate Signing Request contains the organization system:wicd-nodes but does not reject additional organization values such as system:masters. A compromised Windows worker node that holds WICD credentials can submit a CSR that is auto-approved and signed by the cluster, yielding a client certificate that grants cluster-administrator privileges and enabling full cluster takeover.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
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
Advisories
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat OpenShift for Windows Containers 10.19
- 8.3 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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