---
id: "CVE-2026-122304"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-122304"]
title: "Kyverno: namespace admins can read other namespaces' Secrets via cleanup policies"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.9
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["infrastructure", "kubernetes", "kyverno"]
not_affected_if: ["version-outside-range"]
published_at: "2026-11-05T03:17:22+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-05T03:31:41+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-05T03:33:02+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-122304", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-05T03:31:41+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Kyverno: namespace admins can read other namespaces' Secrets via cleanup policies

Kyverno versions 1.17.0 before 1.19.2 let a namespace admin escape namespace limits through a namespaced CleanupPolicy. The attacker can read Secrets in other namespaces and modify validatingwebhookconfigurations using the cleanup controller's ServiceAccount.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the installed Kyverno version, for example with `kubectl get deployment -n kyverno kyverno-cleanup-controller -o jsonpath='{.spec.template.spec.containers[0].image}'` (the deployment name is unknown from the sources; confirm it in your cluster)
- Confirm whether the version is between `1.17.0` and `1.19.2`, not including `1.19.2`

## Fix

- Kyverno: move to `1.19.2` or later

## Timeline

- 2026-11-05T03:31:41+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-122304

## Documents

- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/kyverno/kyverno/security/advisories/GHSA-p58h-r4j3-h5vx
- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/kyverno/kyverno/security/advisories/GHSA-rcxg-3f92-3mgr
- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/kyverno-1.17.0-before-1.19.2-privilege-escalation-via-cleanuppolicy-context-loader

## From the sources

Kyverno from 1.17.0 before 1.19.2 contains an authorization bypass vulnerability that allows namespace admins to escape namespace confinement because the cleanup controller builds its context loader with a nil policy. Attackers can create a namespaced CleanupPolicy with apiCall or globalReference context entries to read cross-namespace Secrets and modify validatingwebhookconfigurations using the cleanup controller's ServiceAccount.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_