CVE-2026-2808: Consul Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability via Kubernetes Authentication
Summary
CVE-2026-2808: Consul vulnerable to arbitrary file reads through the vault kubernetes authentication provider. Affects consul versions < 1.22.5. Fixed in 1.22.5. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
The same CVE-2026-2808 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
HashiCorp Consul is a widely used tool for service networking that provides service discovery, configuration, and orchestration capabilities. It is available in both open-source and enterprise versions. The tool is designed to help organizations manage their microservices and cloud-native applications efficiently. However, certain versions of Consul are vulnerable to an arbitrary file read issue when configured with Kubernetes authentication, which could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive files.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-2808 affects HashiCorp Consul and Consul Enterprise versions 1.18.20 up to 1.21.10 and 1.22.4. When configured with Kubernetes authentication, this vulnerability allows an attacker to read arbitrary files on the server. This could lead to exposure of sensitive information, including configuration files and secrets, potentially compromising the security of the entire application environment. The issue arises from improper handling of file access permissions within the authentication provider.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1.22.5
This is the first release that contains the fix.
Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can disable Kubernetes authentication until they can apply the patch. This can be done by modifying the Consul configuration file to remove or comment out the Kubernetes authentication settings. However, this is not a long-term solution and should only be used until the patch is applied.
Conclusion
CVE-2026-2808 is a significant vulnerability affecting specific versions of HashiCorp Consul when configured with Kubernetes authentication. It is crucial for users to upgrade to the patched versions to mitigate the risk of arbitrary file reads that could expose sensitive information. Temporary workarounds are available, but they should not replace the need for a proper update.
See every vulnerability recorded for consul →
FAQ
Consul versions 1.18.20 up to 1.21.10 and 1.22.4 are affected by this vulnerability.
The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to read arbitrary files on the server, which could lead to the exposure of sensitive information.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
If an immediate upgrade is not possible, consider disabling Kubernetes authentication as a temporary workaround until the patch can be applied.
More information can be found in the official vulnerability database or by visiting the GitHub repository for HashiCorp Consul.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for consul.
