CVE-2024-9594: image builder Hardcoded Credentials

Description

A security issue was discovered in the Kubernetes Image Builder versions <= v0.1.37 where default credentials are enabled during the image build process when using the Nutanix, OVA, QEMU or raw providers. The credentials can be used to gain root access. The credentials are disabled at the conclusion of the image build process. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if their nodes use VM images created via the Image Builder project. Because these images were vulnerable during the image build process, they are affected only if an attacker was able to reach the VM where the image build was happening and used the vulnerability to modify the image at the time the image build was occurring.

Is your site exposed to CVE-2024-9594?

Run a free security scan — no signup, results in seconds.

CVSS v3.1 Score

6.3

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-798 CWE-798

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
kubernetes-sigs	image_builder	< 0.1.38

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder/pull/1596 https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/UKJG-oZogfA/m/Lu1hcnHmAQAJ

Other References

https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/128007

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-9594? +

A security issue was discovered in the Kubernetes Image Builder versions <= v0.1.37 where default credentials are enabled during the image build process when using the Nutanix, OVA, QEMU or raw providers. The credentials can be used to gain root access. The credentials are disabled at the conclusion of the image build process. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if their nodes use VM images created via the Image Builder project. Because these images were vulnerable during the image build process, they are affected only if an attacker was able to reach the VM where the image build was happening and used the vulnerability to modify the image at the time the image build was occurring. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.3 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2024-9594? +

CVE-2024-9594 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 6.3 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance.

What products are affected by CVE-2024-9594? +

CVE-2024-9594 affects products from kubernetes-sigs, specifically: image_builder. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2024-9594? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

Related Vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-42251

Use of hard-coded credentials in KS-SOMED allowed an unauthorized attacker access to FTP server that hosted the application's update packages. …

CVE-2026-61740

LightRAG provides simple and fast retrieval-augmented generation. Prior to 1.5.4, when LightRAG is deployed with LIGHTRAG_API_KEY set but AUTH_ACCOUNTS unset, …

CVE-2025-3426

We observed that Intellispace Portal binaries doesn’t have any protection mechanisms to prevent reverse engineering. Specifically, the app’s code is …

CVE-2025-4049

Use of hard-coded, the same among all vulnerable installations SQLite credentials vulnerability in SIGNUM-NET FARA allows to read and manipulate …

CVE-2025-4569

An insecure sensitive key storage issue was found in MyASUS. potentially allowing unauthorized actor to obtain a token that could …

CVE-2025-4570