Flannel vulnerable to cross-node remote code execution via extension backend BackendData injection

Summary

Flannel is a network fabric for containers, designed for Kubernetes. The Flannel project includes an experimental Extension backend that allows users to easily prototype new backend types. In versions of Flannel prior to 0.28.2, this Extension backend is vulnerable to a command injection that allows an attacker who can set Kubernetes Node annotations to achieve root-level arbitrary command execution on every flannel node in the cluster. The Extension backend's SubnetAddCommand and SubnetRemoveCommand receive attacker-controlled data via stdin (from the `flannel.alpha.coreos.com/backend-data` Node annotation). The content of this annotation is unmarshalled and piped directly to a shell command without checks. Kubernetes clusters using Flannel with the Extension backend are affected by this vulnerability. Other backends such as vxlan and wireguard are unaffected. The vulnerability is fixed in version v0.28.2. As a workaround, use Flannel with another backend such as vxlan or wireguard.

Timeline

1. Mar 27, 2026, 7:31 PM UTCCVE published
2. Mar 31, 2026, 6:51 PM UTCCISA SSVC assessment

   Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: total

3. Mar 31, 2026, 6:54 PM UTCRecord last updated

Affected versions

• flannel-io flannel

  fixed in 0.28.2

• github.com/flannel-io/flannelGo

  fixed in 0.28.2

References 2