---
id: "CVE-2026-122314"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-122314"]
title: "Kyverno: unchecked type assertion lets submitted resources crash policy engine"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.7
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["infrastructure", "kubernetes", "kyverno", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["no-shallow-substitution-policies", "version-1.19.2-or-later"]
published_at: "2026-11-05T03:17:24+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-05T03:31:41+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-05T03:33:15+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-122314", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-05T03:31:41+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Kyverno: unchecked type assertion lets submitted resources crash policy engine

Kyverno versions before 1.19.2 have an unchecked type assertion in the variable-substitution engine. A user who can submit Kubernetes resources can crash the policy engine, causing webhook denial of service and policy bypass when failurePolicy is Ignore.

_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 deploy -A -l app.kubernetes.io/name=kyverno -o jsonpath='{.items[*].spec.template.spec.containers[*].image}'`
- Look for policies that use `{{- variable }}` shallow substitution on fields that may hold non-string values
- Check whether webhook failurePolicy is set to `Ignore`

## 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-2026-122314

## Documents

- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/kyverno/kyverno/security/advisories/GHSA-x4xq-p8g4-6fwg
- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/kyverno-before-1.19.2-denial-of-service-via-shallow-variable-substitution-panic

## From the sources

Kyverno before 1.19.2 contains an unchecked type assertion in its variable-substitution engine that allows users who can submit resources to crash the policy engine. Attackers can submit resources with non-string fields referenced by {{- variable }} shallow substitution in policies, causing a panic that yields webhook denial of service and policy bypass under failurePolicy Ignore.

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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_