Critical Vulnerabilities in Ingress-Nginx Put Thousands of Kubernetes Clusters at Risk

TL;DR

A serious vulnerability in the Ingress-Nginx Controller’s admission controller component poses a significant risk to over 6,000 Kubernetes deployments. This flaw could enable attackers to gain full control over these clusters. The cybersecurity firm Wiz highlights the urgent need for patching and securing exposed systems.

Thousands of Kubernetes Clusters at Risk Due to Ingress-Nginx Vulnerability

Cloud security firm Wiz has uncovered critical vulnerabilities in the admission controller component of the Ingress-Nginx Controller. These flaws could allow attackers to take over Kubernetes clusters completely. Wiz estimates that more than 6,000 internet-facing deployments are at risk¹.

Understanding the Vulnerability

The Ingress-Nginx Controller is a popular tool used to manage external access to services within a Kubernetes cluster. The identified vulnerabilities affect the admission controller component, which is responsible for enforcing policies before modifications are made to the cluster.

Key points about the vulnerability:

• Impact: Full takeover of Kubernetes clusters.
• Affected Component: Admission controller in Ingress-Nginx.
• At Risk: Over 6,000 deployments exposed to the internet.

Implications for Cybersecurity

This discovery underscores the importance of robust security measures for Kubernetes environments. Organizations must ensure that their clusters are properly configured and patched to mitigate such risks.

Preventive Measures

To protect against these vulnerabilities, organizations should:

• Update Software: Apply the latest patches and updates to Ingress-Nginx.
• Monitor Traffic: Implement robust monitoring to detect unusual activity.
• Access Control: Enforce strict access controls and policies.

Conclusion

The vulnerabilities in the Ingress-Nginx Controller serve as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices. Organizations must remain vigilant and proactive in securing their Kubernetes clusters to avoid potential takeovers.

Additional Resources

For further insights, check:

• Wiz Official Report
• Kubernetes Security Best Practices

References

1. The Register (2025). “Public-facing Kubernetes clusters at risk of takeover thanks to Ingress-Nginx flaw”. The Register. Retrieved 2025-03-25. ↩︎