CVE-2026-41485
Prior to versions 1.17.2 and 1.16.4, an unchecked type assertion in the `forEach` mutation handler allows any user with permission to create a `Policy` or `ClusterPolicy` to crash the cluster-wide background controller into a persistent CrashLoopBackOff.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.37%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
Kyverno is a policy engine designed for cloud native platform engineering teams. Prior to versions 1.17.2 and 1.16.4, an unchecked type assertion in the `forEach` mutation handler allows any user with permission to create a `Policy` or `ClusterPolicy` to crash the cluster-wide background controller into a persistent CrashLoopBackOff. The same bug also causes the admission controller to drop connections and block all matching resource operations. The crash loop persists until the policy is deleted. The vulnerability is confined to the legacy engine, and CEL-based policies are unaffected. Versions 1.17.2 and 1.16.4 fix the issue.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.7 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.37% probability · 30th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-617
- Affected
- kyverno/kyverno
- Source
- security-advisories@github.com
References
- https://github.com/kyverno/kyverno/commit/76c8fdbe87328722e099e1fd44c3f21c9f7809cbPatch
- https://github.com/kyverno/kyverno/commit/80e728c2283a0c65e5adb02d8a907106e6ebe7e3Patch
- https://github.com/kyverno/kyverno/security/advisories/GHSA-fpjq-c37h-cqcvExploit, Vendor Advisory
- https://github.com/kyverno/kyverno/security/advisories/GHSA-fpjq-c37h-cqcvExploit, Vendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.