CVE-2026-66781
Description
A flaw was found in the Submariner operator. The Submariner Custom Resource (CR), used for configuring network connectivity, stores the IPsec pre-shared key (PSK) in an unencrypted format. This key, which is critical for securing communication between Kubernetes clusters, can be accessed by unauthorized parties. Such access enables an attacker to passively decrypt network traffic flowing between any two clusters in the mesh, resulting in sensitive information disclosure.
Statement
Red Hat rates this vulnerability as having an Important severity because exposure of the IPsec pre-shared key on a single managed cluster compromises the confidentiality of cross-cluster traffic across the entire Submariner deployment mesh. Within Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes environments, custom resources reside unencrypted in cluster storage and can be exposed through standard resource queries, diagnostic bundles, or GitOps pipelines. Although exploitation requires authorization to read the custom resource or access to cluster configuration artifacts, the resulting widespread cross-cluster decryption capability justifies the Important rating.
Mitigation
To mitigate the risk of IPsec pre-shared key (PSK) disclosure, implement strict Kubernetes Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) policies to limit access to Submariner Custom Resources. Ensure that only authorized administrators and systems are granted permissions to view `submariner` Custom Resources within their namespaces. Additionally, exercise caution when collecting and storing diagnostic data, such as must-gather bundles, and when managing GitOps repositories, as these may inadvertently expose the cleartext PSK.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 5.4 | N/A | 5.4 |
| Attack Vector | Adjacent Network | N/A | Adjacent Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | Low | N/A | Low |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | None |
| Availability Impact | Low | N/A | Low |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L
Red Hat CVSS v3 Score Explanation
Reconciled from source finding FIND-003 (migration 2026-09-01)
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability,Access Control,Other
Technical Impact: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity; Read Application Data; Modify Application Data; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Other
Exposing critical functionality essentially provides an attacker with the privilege level of the exposed functionality. This could result in the modification or exposure of sensitive data or possibly even execution of arbitrary code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure what something means? Check out our Security Glossary.
Want to get errata notifications? Sign up here.
