CVE-2026-53487 Overview
CVE-2026-53487 is a missing authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in Kite, an open-source Kubernetes dashboard maintained by the kite-org project. Versions prior to 0.12.3 register the /api/v1/overview route before the role-based access control (RBAC) middleware executes. An authenticated user with any assigned role can query cluster inventory data from clusters they are not authorized to access by setting the x-cluster-name request header. The flaw exposes aggregate Kubernetes inventory and capacity information across cluster boundaries. Version 0.12.3 addresses the issue.
Critical Impact
Authenticated Kite users can retrieve Kubernetes inventory and capacity data from clusters outside their assigned RBAC scope by manipulating the x-cluster-name header on /api/v1/overview requests.
Affected Products
- Kite Kubernetes dashboard versions prior to 0.12.3
- Deployments exposing /api/v1/overview to authenticated users
- Multi-cluster Kite installations relying on RBAC for cluster isolation
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-21 - CVE-2026-53487 published to NVD
- 2026-08-25 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-53487
Vulnerability Analysis
Kite is a web-based dashboard for managing Kubernetes clusters. The application enforces per-cluster access through role assignments and an RBAC middleware layer. The vulnerability arises because the /api/v1/overview handler is registered on the router before middleware.RBACMiddleware() runs. The middleware never evaluates requests to this route, so cluster-scoped authorization checks are skipped.
Inside the handler, GetOverview validates only that the caller has at least one role assigned by checking len(user.Roles) > 0. It does not verify that the caller's roles grant access to the cluster identified in the request. Callers select the target cluster by setting the x-cluster-name header, which the handler trusts and uses to fetch inventory and capacity data.
An authenticated user with a valid role on any cluster can therefore enumerate cluster inventory across the multi-cluster deployment. The disclosed data includes aggregate Kubernetes resource counts and capacity information for unauthorized clusters.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing authorization [CWE-862] combined with incorrect middleware ordering. The route registration places /api/v1/overview outside the scope of RBACMiddleware(), and the handler's role check does not correlate the caller's roles with the selected x-cluster-name value.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the Kite API and valid authenticated credentials with any assigned role. The attacker sends a GET request to /api/v1/overview and sets the x-cluster-name header to the name of a cluster they do not have permission to view. The server returns overview data for that cluster. No user interaction is required, and complexity is low.
See the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-gvhc-wv3v-7pf8 for the vendor's technical description.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-53487
Indicators of Compromise
- Requests to /api/v1/overview where the x-cluster-name header names a cluster the authenticated user has no role binding for.
- Access logs showing a single user querying overview data for multiple distinct cluster names in a short time window.
- Unexpected GET /api/v1/overview traffic from low-privilege service accounts or read-only users.
Detection Strategies
- Correlate Kite authentication logs with x-cluster-name values in HTTP access logs to identify cross-cluster access by users lacking corresponding role bindings.
- Alert on any request to /api/v1/overview in Kite versions prior to 0.12.3, since the endpoint bypasses RBAC in vulnerable builds.
- Review Kubernetes audit logs for downstream API calls originating from the Kite service account that align with unauthorized overview requests.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose access logging on the reverse proxy or ingress fronting Kite and retain x-cluster-name header values.
- Track the Kite version deployed in each environment and flag any instance below 0.12.3.
- Monitor for enumeration patterns where one identity iterates through multiple x-cluster-name values.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-53487
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade all Kite instances to version 0.12.3 or later.
- Audit existing user role assignments and remove access from accounts that should no longer hold cluster roles.
- Review historical access logs for /api/v1/overview requests carrying x-cluster-name values inconsistent with the caller's role bindings.
Patch Information
The Kite maintainers released version 0.12.3, which fixes the authorization bypass by ensuring cluster access is validated for the overview route. Refer to the Kite GitHub Security Advisory for release notes and remediation guidance.
Workarounds
- Restrict network access to the Kite dashboard using an ingress allowlist or VPN until the upgrade is applied.
- Block or strip the x-cluster-name header at an upstream reverse proxy for identities that should be scoped to a single cluster.
- Reduce the number of users with any assigned Kite role to limit the exploitable population until patching is complete.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
