CVE-2026-22549 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-250 (Execution with Unnecessary Privileges) affecting F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services versions 1.0.0 and 2.0.0. This vulnerability arises because the service grants excessive permissions that allow it to read cluster secrets beyond what is necessary for its operation. Cluster secrets typically contain sensitive information such as credentials, tokens, or keys used within container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require the attacker to have high privileges (PR:H) on the network (AV:N), indicating that exploitation is possible remotely but only by users or processes with elevated privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.9 (medium severity), reflecting the high confidentiality impact (C:H) but no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the vulnerability affects only the vulnerable component without impacting other components. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published at the time of this report. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in containerized environments where secrets management is critical to maintaining security boundaries. If exploited, an attacker with elevated privileges could read sensitive cluster secrets, potentially enabling further attacks such as privilege escalation, lateral movement, or data exfiltration within the container orchestration environment. The vulnerability affects supported versions only; versions that have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated. Organizations using F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services should assess their exposure and prepare to apply vendor patches once available.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2026-22549 is the potential exposure of sensitive cluster secrets within container orchestration environments. This can lead to unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components, enabling attackers to move laterally, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data. Given the widespread adoption of containerized applications and Kubernetes in Europe, especially in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and government, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to confidentiality. The absence of integrity or availability impacts limits the scope to data confidentiality breaches, but the sensitivity of secrets involved can have cascading effects on overall security posture. Organizations relying on F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services for ingress management in containerized environments may face increased risk if attackers gain elevated privileges or if insider threats exploit this vulnerability. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time. Failure to address this vulnerability could result in regulatory non-compliance, particularly under GDPR, if sensitive data is compromised. Therefore, European organizations must prioritize detection, containment, and remediation efforts to mitigate potential impacts.

1. Limit privileges: Ensure that F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services run with the minimum necessary privileges, adhering to the principle of least privilege to reduce the risk of excessive permission exploitation. 2. Secrets management: Implement strict access controls and auditing on cluster secrets, using Kubernetes RBAC policies and secrets encryption to limit exposure. 3. Network segmentation: Isolate container ingress services within secure network zones to restrict access to trusted entities only. 4. Monitoring and alerting: Deploy continuous monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns or privilege escalations related to ingress services and secrets access. 5. Vendor updates: Monitor F5 advisories closely and apply patches or updates promptly once they become available to remediate the vulnerability. 6. Incident response readiness: Prepare and test incident response plans specific to container orchestration environments to quickly address potential exploitation. 7. Configuration review: Regularly audit the configuration of F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services and Kubernetes clusters to identify and remediate misconfigurations that could exacerbate the vulnerability. 8. Use of alternative ingress controllers: Where feasible, consider alternative ingress solutions with a smaller attack surface or better privilege management until patches are available.