{"id":"GHSA-x7xj-jvwp-97rv","aliases":["GO-2024-3222"],"url":"https://o3.security/vulnerability/GHSA-x7xj-jvwp-97rv","summary":"RKE2 allows privilege escalation in Windows nodes due to Insecure Access Control Lists","details":"### Impact\n\nA vulnerability has been identified whereby RKE2 deployments in Windows nodes have weak Access Control Lists (ACL), allowing `BUILTIN\\Users` or `NT AUTHORITY\\Authenticated Users` to view or edit sensitive files which could lead to privilege escalation.\n\nThe affected files include binaries, scripts, configuration and log files:\n\n```\nC:\\etc\\rancher\\node\\password\nC:\\var\\lib\\rancher\\rke2\\agent\\logs\\kubelet.log\nC:\\var\\lib\\rancher\\rke2\\data\\v1.**.**-rke2r*-windows-amd64-*\\bin\\*\nC:\\var\\lib\\rancher\\rke2\\bin\\*\n```\n\n**This vulnerability is exclusive to RKE2 in Windows environments. Linux environments are not affected by it.**\n\nPlease consult the associated [MITRE ATT&CK - Technique - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1068/) for further information about this category of attack.\n\n\n### Patches\n\nPatched versions include RKE2 `1.31.0`, `1.30.2`, `1.29.6`, `1.28.11` and `1.27.15`.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nUsers are advised to do a fresh install of their RKE2 Windows nodes using a patched RKE2 version. \nWhen that is not possible, users can enforce stricter ACLs for all sensitive files affected by this Security Advisory running [this](https://github.com/rancherlabs/support-tools/blob/master/windows-access-control-lists/README.md) PowerShell script as an Administrator on each node.\n\n### References\n\n- [CVE-2023-32197](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-32197)\n- [Rancher Manager’s GHSA-7h8m-pvw3-5gh4](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/security/advisories/GHSA-7h8m-pvw3-5gh4)\n\n### For more information\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n\n- Reach out to the [SUSE Rancher Security team](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/security/policy) for security related inquiries.\n- Open an issue in the [Rancher](https://github.com/rancher/rancher/issues/new/choose) repository.\n- Verify with our [support matrix](https://www.suse.com/suse-rancher/support-matrix/all-supported-versions/) and [product support lifecycle](https://www.suse.com/lifecycle/).\n","published":"2024-10-25T19:39:07Z","modified":"2026-09-10T03:50:20.296890104Z","cvss":{"score":9.1,"severity":"CRITICAL","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"},"epss":null,"cisaKev":null,"exploitsKnown":0,"affectedPackages":[{"ecosystem":"Go","name":"github.com/rancher/rke2","fixedVersion":"1.27.15"},{"ecosystem":"Go","name":"github.com/rancher/rke2","fixedVersion":"1.28.11"},{"ecosystem":"Go","name":"github.com/rancher/rke2","fixedVersion":"1.29.6"},{"ecosystem":"Go","name":"github.com/rancher/rke2","fixedVersion":"1.30.2"}],"fix":null,"references":[{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/security/advisories/GHSA-7h8m-pvw3-5gh4"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/rancher/rke2/security/advisories/GHSA-x7xj-jvwp-97rv"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-32197"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://github.com/rancher/rke2"}],"provenance":{"sources":["OSV.dev","FIRST.org (EPSS)"],"lastVerified":"2026-09-10T03:50:20.296890104Z"}}