{"api_version":"1","generated_at":"2026-08-16T16:32:54+00:00","cve":"CVE-2026-18677","urls":{"html":"https://cve.report/CVE-2026-18677","api":"https://cve.report/api/cve/CVE-2026-18677.json","docs":"https://cve.report/api","cve_org":"https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-18677","nvd":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-18677"},"summary":{"title":"Kong Mesh: a dataplane token without a workload binding can claim any workload's SPIFFE identity","description":"In Kong Mesh running in universal mode with a MeshIdentity whose SPIFFE ID path template derives from the dataplane's kuma.io/workload label, the XDS authenticator in kuma-cp validates that label only when the dataplane token is bound to a workload. 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In patched versions a dataplane whose identity derives from the kuma.io/workload label requires a workload-bound token; an unbound tags-only token is rejected at XDS authentication. Kubernetes mode and universal templates that do not reference the workload label keep working with unbound tokens.","time":"","lang":"en"}],"workarounds":[{"source":"CNA","title":"","value":"Issue workload-bound dataplane tokens for every dataplane whose identity derives from the kuma.io/workload label. A workload-bound token constrains that label to the bound value, so a mismatched label is rejected at authentication.","time":"","lang":"en"}],"exploits":[],"credits":[{"source":"CNA","value":"kanywst","lang":"en"}],"nvd_cpes":[],"vendor_comments":[],"enrichments":{"kev":null,"epss":{"cve_year":"2026","cve_id":"18677","cve":"CVE-2026-18677","epss":"0.003130000","percentile":"0.239420000","score_date":"2026-08-14","updated_at":"2026-08-15 00:04:44"},"legacy_qids":[]},"source_records":{"cve_program":{"containers":{"adp":[{"metrics":[{"other":{"content":{"id":"CVE-2026-18677","options":[{"Exploitation":"none"},{"Automatable":"no"},{"Technical Impact":"partial"}],"role":"CISA Coordinator","timestamp":"2026-08-13T14:49:14.103209Z","version":"2.0.3"},"type":"ssvc"}}],"providerMetadata":{"dateUpdated":"2026-08-13T14:49:27.614Z","orgId":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","shortName":"CISA-ADP"},"title":"CISA ADP Vulnrichment"}],"cna":{"affected":[{"defaultStatus":"unaffected","modules":["kuma-cp"],"platforms":["Linux"],"product":"Kong Mesh","vendor":"Kong Inc.","versions":[{"lessThan":"2.13.10","status":"affected","version":"2.13.0","versionType":"semver"},{"lessThan":"2.14.2","status":"affected","version":"2.14.0","versionType":"semver"}]}],"configurations":[{"lang":"en","supportingMedia":[{"base64":false,"type":"text/html","value":"<p>You are affected if all of the following hold:</p><ul><li>The control plane runs in universal mode.</li><li>A <code>MeshIdentity</code> is configured whose SPIFFE ID path template derives from the workload label, including the default universal template <code>/workload/{{ .Workload }}</code>.</li><li>Dataplanes authenticate with tokens that are not bound to a workload (tags-bound tokens, the common case, since workload binding is newer and optional).</li></ul><p>You are not affected if:</p><ul><li>The control plane runs in Kubernetes mode. Its identity template is <code>/ns/{{ .Namespace }}/sa/{{ .ServiceAccount }}</code>, and the control plane derives those values from the pod's real identity rather than from a label the workload sets.</li><li>Your <code>MeshIdentity</code> uses a SPIFFE template that does not reference the workload label.</li><li>Every dataplane whose identity derives from the workload label already uses a workload-bound token.</li></ul>"}],"value":"You are affected if all of the following hold:\n\n  *  The control plane runs in universal mode.\n  *  A MeshIdentity is configured whose SPIFFE ID path template derives from the workload label, including the default universal template /workload/{{ .Workload }}.\n  *  Dataplanes authenticate with tokens that are not bound to a workload (tags-bound tokens, the common case, since workload binding is newer and optional).\n\n\n\n\nYou are not affected if:\n\n  *  The control plane runs in Kubernetes mode. Its identity template is /ns/{{ .Namespace }}/sa/{{ .ServiceAccount }}, and the control plane derives those values from the pod's real identity rather than from a label the workload sets.\n  *  Your MeshIdentity uses a SPIFFE template that does not reference the workload label.\n  *  Every dataplane whose identity derives from the workload label already uses a workload-bound token."}],"credits":[{"lang":"en","type":"finder","value":"kanywst"}],"descriptions":[{"lang":"en","supportingMedia":[{"base64":false,"type":"text/html","value":"<p>In Kong Mesh running in universal mode with a <code>MeshIdentity</code> whose SPIFFE ID path template derives from the dataplane's <code>kuma.io/workload</code> label, the XDS authenticator in <code>kuma-cp</code> validates that label only when the dataplane token is bound to a workload. Workload binding is optional, so a dataplane presenting a tags-bound token can register with <code>kuma.io/workload</code> set to any value and obtain another workload's SPIFFE identity.</p>"}],"value":"In Kong Mesh running in universal mode with a MeshIdentity whose SPIFFE ID path template derives from the dataplane's kuma.io/workload label, the XDS authenticator in kuma-cp validates that label only when the dataplane token is bound to a workload. Workload binding is optional, so a dataplane presenting a tags-bound token can register with kuma.io/workload set to any value and obtain another workload's SPIFFE identity."}],"impacts":[{"descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"Workload identity spoofing"}]}],"metrics":[{"cvssV4_0":{"Automatable":"NOT_DEFINED","Recovery":"NOT_DEFINED","Safety":"NOT_DEFINED","attackComplexity":"LOW","attackRequirements":"PRESENT","attackVector":"NETWORK","baseScore":6,"baseSeverity":"MEDIUM","exploitMaturity":"NOT_DEFINED","privilegesRequired":"LOW","providerUrgency":"NOT_DEFINED","subAvailabilityImpact":"NONE","subConfidentialityImpact":"NONE","subIntegrityImpact":"NONE","userInteraction":"NONE","valueDensity":"NOT_DEFINED","vectorString":"CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N","version":"4.0","vulnAvailabilityImpact":"NONE","vulnConfidentialityImpact":"HIGH","vulnIntegrityImpact":"LOW","vulnerabilityResponseEffort":"NOT_DEFINED"},"format":"CVSS","scenarios":[{"lang":"en","value":"GENERAL"}]}],"problemTypes":[{"descriptions":[{"cweId":"CWE-290","description":"CWE-290 Authentication Bypass by Spoofing","lang":"en","type":"CWE"}]}],"providerMetadata":{"dateUpdated":"2026-08-12T18:47:06.710Z","orgId":"02762ae7-200e-4b20-9b2b-a77d5b8fc4cb","shortName":"Kong"},"references":[{"name":"Upstream advisory GHSA-744g-c785-x65q","tags":["vendor-advisory"],"url":"https://github.com/kumahq/kuma/security/advisories/GHSA-744g-c785-x65q"},{"name":"kumahq/kuma#17474 (master)","tags":["patch"],"url":"https://github.com/kumahq/kuma/pull/17474"},{"name":"kumahq/kuma#17503 (release-2.13 backport)","tags":["patch"],"url":"https://github.com/kumahq/kuma/pull/17503"},{"name":"kumahq/kuma#17502 (release-2.14 backport)","tags":["patch"],"url":"https://github.com/kumahq/kuma/pull/17502"},{"name":"Kong MESH Changelog","tags":["release-notes"],"url":"https://developer.konghq.com/mesh/changelog/"}],"solutions":[{"lang":"en","supportingMedia":[{"base64":false,"type":"text/html","value":"<p>Upgrade to Kong Mesh 2.13.10 or 2.14.2, whichever matches your release line. In patched versions a dataplane whose identity derives from the <code>kuma.io/workload</code> label requires a workload-bound token; an unbound tags-only token is rejected at XDS authentication. Kubernetes mode and universal templates that do not reference the workload label keep working with unbound tokens.</p>"}],"value":"Upgrade to Kong Mesh 2.13.10 or 2.14.2, whichever matches your release line. In patched versions a dataplane whose identity derives from the kuma.io/workload label requires a workload-bound token; an unbound tags-only token is rejected at XDS authentication. Kubernetes mode and universal templates that do not reference the workload label keep working with unbound tokens."}],"source":{"discovery":"EXTERNAL"},"timeline":[{"lang":"en","time":"2026-08-01T16:58:00.000Z","value":"Kong Mesh 2.13.10 and 2.14.2 published"}],"title":"Kong Mesh: a dataplane token without a workload binding can claim any workload's SPIFFE identity","workarounds":[{"lang":"en","supportingMedia":[{"base64":false,"type":"text/html","value":"<p>Issue workload-bound dataplane tokens for every dataplane whose identity derives from the <code>kuma.io/workload</code> label. A workload-bound token constrains that label to the bound value, so a mismatched label is rejected at authentication.</p>"}],"value":"Issue workload-bound dataplane tokens for every dataplane whose identity derives from the kuma.io/workload label. 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Workload binding is optional, so a dataplane presenting a tags-bound token can register with kuma.io/workload set to any value and obtain another workload's SPIFFE identity.","Type":"Description","Title":"Kong Mesh: a dataplane token without a workload binding can clai"}]}}}