CVE-2026-18677

Kong Mesh: a dataplane token without a workload binding can claim any workload's SPIFFE identity

Published Aug 12, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 6 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
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.

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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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

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

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Kong
Published
Updated
Aug 13, 2026, 2:49 PM
Reserved
Aug 3, 2026, 3:20 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Aug 12, 2026, 7:17 PM
Modified
Oct 23, 2026, 7:10 PM