CVE-2026-3288 ingress-nginx rewrite-target nginx configuration injection
Attackers can inject nginx configuration via rewrite-target annotations to execute arbitrary code and read cluster secrets in ingress-nginx.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-3288?
CVE-2026-3288 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Kubernetes ingress-nginx, published on 9 Mar 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A security issue was discovered in ingress-nginx where the `nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/rewrite-target` Ingress annotation can be used to inject configuration into nginx. This can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the ingress-nginx controller, and disclosure of Secrets accessible to the controller. (Note that in the default installation, the controller can access all Secrets cluster-wide.)
Weakness: CWE-20
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-3288?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Kubernetes Ingress-Nginx.
How do I fix CVE-2026-3288?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-3288 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and never evaluate templates, expressions or code built from user input. More about Code injection.
Is CVE-2026-3288 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-3288 exists.
Public exploit code: 2 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in Kubernetes ingress-nginx
- CVE-2022-4886 Ingress-nginx `path` sanitization can be bypassed with `log_format` directive
- CVE-2023-5043 Ingress nginx annotation injection causes arbitrary command execution
- CVE-2023-5044 Code injection via nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/permanent-redirect annotation
- CVE-2021-25748 Ingress-nginx `path` sanitization can be bypassed with newline character
- CVE-2021-25745 Ingress-nginx path can be pointed to service account token file
Sources
Also known as GHSA-c56h-j8gw-3v54.