What is CVE-2024-9594?

CVE-2024-9594 is a medium-severity use of hard-coded credentials vulnerability in github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder (go), affecting versions < 0.1.38. It is fixed in 0.1.38. Credentials are embedded in source code or a binary, making them accessible to anyone who can read the artifact.

How severe is CVE-2024-9594?

CVE-2024-9594 has a CVSS score of 6.3 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Which versions of github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder are affected by CVE-2024-9594?

github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder (go) versions < 0.1.38 is affected.

Is there a fix for CVE-2024-9594?

Yes. CVE-2024-9594 is fixed in 0.1.38. Upgrade to this version or later.

Is CVE-2024-9594 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2024-9594 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

What actually determines whether CVE-2024-9594 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

CVE-2024-9594

Q: How severe is CVE-2024-9594?

CVE-2024-9594 has a CVSS score of 6.3 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Q: Which versions of github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder are affected by CVE-2024-9594?

github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder (go) versions < 0.1.38 is affected.

Q: Is there a fix for CVE-2024-9594?

Yes. CVE-2024-9594 is fixed in 0.1.38. Upgrade to this version or later.

Q: Is CVE-2024-9594 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2024-9594 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

Q: What actually determines whether CVE-2024-9594 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2024-9594?

Upgrade github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder to 0.1.38 or later.

Summary

VM images built with Image Builder with some providers use default credentials during builds in github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder

A security issue was discovered in the Kubernetes Image Builder versions <= v0.1.37 where default credentials are enabled during the image build process when using the Nutanix, OVA, QEMU or raw providers. The credentials can be used to gain root access. The credentials are disabled at the conclusion of the image build process. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if their nodes use VM images created via the Image Builder project. Because these images were vulnerable during the image build process, they are affected only if an attacker was able to reach the VM where the image build was happening and used the vulnerability to modify the image at the time the image build was occurring.

Impact

Credentials are embedded in source code or a binary, making them accessible to anyone who can read the artifact. Typical impact: unauthorized access using the static credential.

CVE-2024-9594 has a CVSS score of 6.3 (Medium). The vector is reachable from an adjacent network, high privileges required, and user interaction required. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (0.1.38); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Affected versions

github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder (< 0.1.38)

Security releases

github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder → 0.1.38 (go)

Kodem intelligence

Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.

Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.

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Remediation advice

Upgrade github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder to 0.1.38 or later to resolve this vulnerability.

Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-9594? CVE-2024-9594 is a medium-severity use of hard-coded credentials vulnerability in github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder (go), affecting versions < 0.1.38. It is fixed in 0.1.38. Credentials are embedded in source code or a binary, making them accessible to anyone who can read the artifact.
How severe is CVE-2024-9594? CVE-2024-9594 has a CVSS score of 6.3 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
Which versions of github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder are affected by CVE-2024-9594? github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder (go) versions < 0.1.38 is affected.
Is there a fix for CVE-2024-9594? Yes. CVE-2024-9594 is fixed in 0.1.38. Upgrade to this version or later.
Is CVE-2024-9594 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2024-9594 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
What actually determines whether CVE-2024-9594 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
How do I fix CVE-2024-9594? Upgrade github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder to 0.1.38 or later.