CVE-2019-11254: Kubernetes API Server denial of service vulnerability from malicious YAML payloads

Published Mar 27, 2020
·
Updated

A denial of service vulnerability was found in the kube-apiserver, allowing authorized users sending malicious YAML payloads to cause kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.

Upstream Issue:

https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/89535

Other sources

The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.

Affected Software

10 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/atomic-openshift<0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7
0:3.11.232-1.git.0.a5bc32f.el7
redhat/openshift<0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el8
0:4.5.0-202007012112.p0.git.0.582d7fc.el8
redhat/kubernetes<1.17.3
1.17.3
redhat/kubernetes<1.16.7
1.16.7
redhat/kubernetes<1.15.10
1.15.10
Kubernetes kubernetes<1.15.10
Kubernetes kubernetes>=1.16.0<1.16.7
Kubernetes kubernetes>=1.17.0<1.17.3
IBM Watson Studio on Cloud Pak for Data<=4.0
IBM Watson Studio on Cloud Pak for Data<=5.0

Remediation

Information

Prevent unauthenticated or unauthorized access to the API server

Event History

Mar 27, 2020
CVE Published
12:00 AM
Apr 1, 2020
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:30 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:30 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Aug 28, 2025
Data Sourced
via IBM·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2019-11254?

CVE-2019-11254 is a vulnerability in the Kubernetes API Server component that allows an authorized user to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML payloads.

2

How does CVE-2019-11254 affect Kubernetes?

CVE-2019-11254 affects Kubernetes versions 1.1-1.14 and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7, and 1.17.3.

3

What is the severity of CVE-2019-11254?

CVE-2019-11254 has a severity rating of 6.5 (medium).

4

How can I fix CVE-2019-11254?

To fix CVE-2019-11254, update your Kubernetes version to 1.15.10, 1.16.7, or 1.17.3.

5

Where can I find more information about CVE-2019-11254?

You can find more information about CVE-2019-11254 on the CVE website, NIST's vulnerability database, and Red Hat's security advisories.

Contact

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