CVE-2026-49445: Cilium Vulnerable to Sensitive Information Disclosure and Cluster Disruption via Local Envoy Admin Socket Access
Summary
CVE-2026-49445: Impact When Cilium L7 functionality is enabled on a cluster, the Envoy instance supporting this functionality creates a world-accessible socket on cluster nodes. Affects github.com/cilium/cilium across 3 version ranges.
< 1.17.14
>= 1.18.0, < 1.18.8
>= 1.19.0, < 1.19.2
Fixed in 1.17.14, 1.18.8 or 1.19.2, depending on the release line you run. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- hubble-relay · Bitnami
- cilium · Bitnami
- cilium-operator · Bitnami
The same CVE-2026-49445 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
Cilium is an open-source networking and security project that provides advanced networking capabilities for cloud-native environments. It leverages eBPF technology to enforce policies and manage traffic between microservices. Cilium's Layer 7 (L7) functionality enhances its ability to manage and secure application-level traffic. However, a vulnerability has been identified that allows local attackers to exploit the Envoy admin socket, potentially leading to severe security risks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises when Cilium's L7 functionality is enabled, creating a world-accessible socket on cluster nodes. This allows local attackers to access Envoy admin endpoints, which can lead to the exposure of sensitive information such as TLS secrets, disruption of traffic within the cluster, and even termination of the Envoy process. This issue affects both embedded and standalone Envoy deployment models, posing significant risks to the integrity and confidentiality of the cluster's operations.
How To Fix
Latest published version: v1.20.3 as of 22 Oct 2026
go get github.com/cilium/cilium@v1.20.3Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the versions below are the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you can't move to the latest
The minimum fixed version depends on the release line you run.
-
< 1.17.141.17.14go get github.com/cilium/cilium@v1.17.14 -
>= 1.18.0, < 1.18.81.18.8go get github.com/cilium/cilium@v1.18.8 -
>= 1.19.0, < 1.19.21.19.2go get github.com/cilium/cilium@v1.19.2
Tip — Not sure which release line you're on? Vulert can find the fix for the version you are using. Scan free →
Workaround
Currently, there is no known workaround for this issue. It is strongly advised to apply the patches as soon as possible to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Conclusion
CVE-2026-49445 represents a critical vulnerability in Cilium that can lead to serious security breaches if not addressed. It is essential to update to the patched versions to protect your cluster from potential attacks. Regular monitoring and vulnerability management practices are crucial for maintaining the security of your applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for github.com/cilium/cilium →
FAQ
CVE-2026-49445 is a vulnerability in Cilium that allows local attackers to access sensitive information and disrupt cluster operations via the Envoy admin socket.
The vulnerability can lead to exposure of TLS secrets, disruption of traffic, and termination of the Envoy process, compromising the security and functionality of your cluster.
Cilium versions v1.19.0 to v1.19.1, v1.18.0 to v1.18.7, and all versions prior to v1.17.14 are affected by this vulnerability.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 9.2, indicating a critical level of severity.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for github.com/cilium/cilium.
