# CVE-2019-11248: Kubernetes kubelet exposes /debug/pprof info on healthz port

> Attackers can access unauthenticated debug endpoints on the Kubelet healthz port to leak sensitive memory information or cause limited denial of service.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 29 Aug 2019
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2019-11248, GHSA-9frv-h2cf-52wh

## What is CVE-2019-11248?

CVE-2019-11248 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Kubernetes Kubernetes, published on 29 Aug 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The debugging endpoint /debug/pprof is exposed over the unauthenticated Kubelet healthz port. The go pprof endpoint is exposed over the Kubelet's healthz port. This debugging endpoint can potentially leak sensitive information such as internal Kubelet memory addresses and configuration, or for limited denial of service. Versions prior to 1.15.0, 1.14.4, 1.13.8, and 1.12.10 are affected. The issue is of medium severity, but not exposed by the default configuration.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), CWE-419 (Unprotected Primary Channel)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-11248?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Kubernetes Kubernetes.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-11248?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2019-11248 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-11248 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Debug Endpoint pprof - Exposure Detection (nuclei): http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-11248.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Kubernetes Kubernetes

- [CVE-2018-1002105](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1002105/): Privilege Escalation in Kubernetes (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000056](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000056/): Kubernetes Privilege Escalation (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-1906](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1906/): Authorization bypass in Openshift (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-3676](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3676/): Kubernetes - Windows nodes - Insufficient input sanitization leads to privilege escalation (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-3955](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3955/): Kubernetes - Windows nodes - Insufficient input sanitization leads to privilege escalation (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-11248 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-11248 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Kubernetes Kubernetes, published on 29 Aug 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-11248 exists.

Affected product: Kubernetes Kubernetes. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11248/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11248/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-11248
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-11248
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-11248

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11248/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.