# CVE-2020-14306: Missing authorization in openshift-service-mesh/istio-rhel8-operator

> An attacker with basic cluster access can deploy pods to any namespace, potentially gaining privileged service account tokens and compromising confidentiality and integrity.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024

## What is CVE-2020-14306?

CVE-2020-14306 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in openshift-service-mesh/istio-rhel8-operator, published on 16 Sep 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An incorrect access control flaw was found in the operator, openshift-service-mesh/istio-rhel8-operator all versions through 1.1.3. This flaw allows an attacker with a basic level of access to the cluster to deploy a custom gateway/pod to any namespace, potentially gaining access to privileged service account tokens. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-14306?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Istio-Operator Project Istio-Operator.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-14306?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2020-14306 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-14306 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-14306 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-14306 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in openshift-service-mesh/istio-rhel8-operator, published on 16 Sep 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-14306 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: openshift-service-mesh/istio-rhel8-operator. 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-2020-14306/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14306/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14306
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-14306
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-14306

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14306/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.