# CVE-2026-50516: Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

> An unauthorized attacker can elevate privileges in Azure Kubernetes Service due to missing authentication on a critical function.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 11 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 28 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pq49-h7qm-894f

## What is CVE-2026-50516?

CVE-2026-50516 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service, published on 11 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Incorrect authorization in Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-50516?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-50516?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-50516 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-50516 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-50516 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service

- [CVE-2026-56163](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-56163/): Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-33105](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33105/): Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-21376](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21376/): Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service Confidential Container Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2024-21403](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21403/): Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service Confidential Container Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2026-32193](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32193/): Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-50516 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-50516 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service, published on 11 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-50516 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service. 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-2026-50516/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-50516/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-50516
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-50516
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50516

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-50516/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.