CVE-2024-9594 | VM images built with Image Builder with some providers use default credentials during builds

A security issue was discovered in the Kubernetes Image Builder versions <= v0.1.37 where default credentials are enabled during the image build process when using the Nutanix, OVA, QEMU or raw providers. The credentials can be used to gain root access. The credentials are disabled at the conclusion of the image build process. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if their nodes use VM images created via the Image Builder project. Because these images were vulnerable during the image build process, they are affected only if an attacker was able to reach the VM where the image build was happening and used the vulnerability to modify the image at the time the image build was occurring.

Published: 2024-10-15 Last update: 2026-06-17 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Analyzed，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2024-9594 is rated Moderate Risk (49.8/100): CVSS Medium severity, with medium exploitation likelihood (EPSS 1.64%). Review affected assets and schedule remediation.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2024-9594

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-06-15 2.65% 1.64% -1.01%
2 2026-03-06 2.28% 2.65% +0.37%
3 2026-03-04 — 2.28% —

Full EPSS history (40 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2024-9594

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
6.3 3.1 MEDIUM
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:A)
Attacker has to be nearby on the network—same office, same link, that vibe—not the whole wide internet.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:H)
They need powerful rights—admin, root, or similar—before this pays off.
User interaction (UI:R)
A real person has to do something—click, install, enable—otherwise it doesn’t land.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 0.4 5.9 [email protected]
8.1 3.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 2.2 5.9 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2024-9594

GitHub Security Advisory for CVE-2024-9594

GHSA-8jpg-62jc-hwhr · Severity: medium · Ecosystem: go — VM images built with Image Builder with some providers use default credentials during builds in github.com/kubernetes-sigs/image-builder

OS Trackers for CVE-2024-9594

vendor priority summary link
redhat medium — https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-9594
ubuntu medium CVE-2024-9594 medium priority: Ubuntu including 1 source packages (kubernetes), 6 status rows across 6 suites (focal, jammy, noble, oracular, plucky, upstream): not-affected 3, DNE 1, ignored 1, needs-triage 1. https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-9594

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2024-9594

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
kubernetes-sigs image_builder < 0.1.38 cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes-sigs:image_builder:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2024-9594

cvelogic Threat Intelligence