Horizon Alert
Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters
This advisory addresses two authorization flaws in Kargo's project-scoped RBAC API that could allow an authenticated user to escalate their permissions. This escalation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive project information and resources, and potentially impact external systems like Git or container registries if their credentials are compromised. The main concern is confirming if custom roles granting these specific permissions are in use.
- Flaws allow delegated users to gain higher project access.
- Affects how permissions are managed within projects.
- Confirm if custom administrative roles are in use.
Attack Path
How an attacker could exploit the issue
An attacker with delegated permission to manage project roles or service accounts can exploit authorization flaws in Kargo's API. By creating or modifying roles, they can grant themselves elevated permissions, potentially leading to unauthorized access to project secrets and credentials, or the modification and deletion of project resources. Stolen credentials could further impact external systems.
- Requires authenticated user with delegated project permissions.
- Overrides permissions when editing roles or service accounts.
- Leads to elevated access and resource compromise.
Live Threat
Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context
An authenticated user with specific delegated permissions to manage Project `Roles` or `ServiceAccounts` could escalate their privileges within Kargo. This escalation could allow them to access or modify Project `Secrets`, credentials, and other Project resources. This exploit is possible when changes are made using the API server's broadly privileged credentials, bypassing granular permission checks for conferred permissions, and requires an administrator-created custom role that grants these elevated privileges.
- Project secrets and credentials at risk.
- Permissions are escalated via API.
- Project resources could be modified or deleted.
Operational Fix
Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps
For Kargo's authorization flaws, the Platform or Application Engineering teams are likely responsible for managing Kargo and its configurations. System owners and security teams should collaborate to identify affected Kargo instances, assess their criticality and exposure, and coordinate remediation efforts with vendor management if Kargo is externally sourced. The first practical step involves locating all Kargo deployments, verifying their reachability and business impact, and identifying the accountable owner before planning any necessary updates.
- Platform Engineering or Application Owners.
- Verify Kargo deployment reachability and criticality.
- Plan risk-based remediation with vendor.
