CVE-2026-62290

cert-manager: Direct ACME Challenge resources can bypass Issuer DNS01 solver policy and use ClusterIssuer DNS credentials

HIGH
7.3
CVSS Score
Published: July 16, 2026 at 07:37 PM UTC
Updated: July 30, 2026 at 06:22 PM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsCert ManagerCert Manager

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Severity
HIGH7.3
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.1%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

cert-manager adds certificates and certificate issuers as resource types in Kubernetes clusters, and simplifies the process of obtaining, renewing and using those certificates. From 1.18.0 until 1.19.6 and 1.20.3, Challenge resources under acme.cert-manager.io can be created directly by namespace users without admission validation tying the Challenge to an Order, owner reference, or Issuer-selected solver, allowing attacker-controlled Challenge.spec.solver values referencing a ClusterIssuer to bypass DNS01 solver selectors such as dnsZones, dnsNames, and matchLabels and cause cert-manager to use ClusterIssuer DNS credentials for attacker-selected provider settings and DNS names, including disclosure of X-Api-User and X-Api-Key headers for acme-dns. This issue is fixed in versions 1.19.6 and 1.20.3.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

1.18.0 ≤ v < 1.19.61.20.0 ≤ v < 1.20.3
Affected range stops below 1.19.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 1.20.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
v < 1.19.6v < 1.20.3
Affected range stops below 1.19.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 1.20.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

References (7)

x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitMitigationVendor Advisory
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/security/advisories/GHSA-8rvj-mm4h-c258
x_refsource_MISCIssue TrackingPatch
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/pull/8940
x_refsource_MISCIssue TrackingPatch
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/pull/8941
x_refsource_MISCProductRelease Notes
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/tag/v1.19.6
x_refsource_MISCProductRelease Notes
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/tag/v1.20.3

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.3HIGHGitHub_M
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
LOW
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-863

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