Description
In Kong Mesh running in universal mode with a MeshIdentity whose SPIFFE ID path template derives from the dataplane's kuma.io/workload label, the XDS authenticator in kuma-cp validates that label only when the dataplane token is bound to a workload. Workload binding is optional, so a dataplane presenting a tags-bound token can register with kuma.io/workload set to any value and obtain another workload's SPIFFE identity.
Published: 2026-08-12
Score: 6 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade to Kong Mesh 2.13.10 or 2.14.2, whichever matches your release line. In patched versions a dataplane whose identity derives from the kuma.io/workload label requires a workload-bound token; an unbound tags-only token is rejected at XDS authentication. Kubernetes mode and universal templates that do not reference the workload label keep working with unbound tokens.


Vendor Workaround

Issue workload-bound dataplane tokens for every dataplane whose identity derives from the kuma.io/workload label. A workload-bound token constrains that label to the bound value, so a mismatched label is rejected at authentication.

Tracking

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History

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Konghq
Konghq kong Mesh
Vendors & Products Konghq
Konghq kong Mesh

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In Kong Mesh running in universal mode with a MeshIdentity whose SPIFFE ID path template derives from the dataplane's kuma.io/workload label, the XDS authenticator in kuma-cp validates that label only when the dataplane token is bound to a workload. Workload binding is optional, so a dataplane presenting a tags-bound token can register with kuma.io/workload set to any value and obtain another workload's SPIFFE identity.
Title Kong Mesh: a dataplane token without a workload binding can claim any workload's SPIFFE identity
Weaknesses CWE-290
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


Subscriptions

Konghq Kong Mesh
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Kong

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-13T14:49:27.614Z

Reserved: 2026-08-03T15:20:45.630Z

Link: CVE-2026-18677

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-13T14:49:24.390Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-12T19:17:31.063

Modified: 2026-08-13T15:19:36.147

Link: CVE-2026-18677

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-13T09:48:07Z

Weaknesses