CVE-2026-55997

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Rancher Plaintext Long-Lived Registration Token Exposure

Publication date: 2026-08-05

Last updated on: 2026-09-01

Assigner: SUSE

Description

Rancher issues long-lived registration tokens to authenticate nodes and agents joining a downstream cluster. These tokens were stored and exposed in plaintext with no expiration, so a malicious user could obtain one either through the Rancher API, etcd, stored automation, or direct file access on a node, and could use it at any time to register a rogue node into the cluster.

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Meta Information

Published

2026-08-05

Last Modified

2026-09-01

Generated

2026-11-08

AI Q&A

2026-08-05

EPSS Evaluated

2026-11-07

NVD

CVE-2026-55997

EUVD

EUVD-2026-53259

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
rancher	rancher	From 2.14.0 (inc) to 2.14.3 (inc)
rancher	rancher	From 2.13.0 (inc) to 2.13.7 (inc)
rancher	rancher	2.14.4
rancher	rancher	2.13.8

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-312	The product stores sensitive information in cleartext within a resource that might be accessible to another control sphere.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This vulnerability involves Rancher storing long-lived registration tokens in plaintext without expiration. These tokens can be obtained by attackers through various means like the Rancher API, etcd, automation files, or direct node access. Once obtained, the tokens allow registering unauthorized nodes into the cluster.

Detection Guidance

Check Rancher API responses for registration tokens in plaintext. Inspect etcd data stores and node files for stored tokens. Look for unauthorized nodes in your cluster.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could use a stolen token to register a rogue node in your cluster, gaining unauthorized access. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized control over cluster resources, or further lateral movement within your infrastructure.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could violate compliance requirements by allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems. GDPR and HIPAA mandate strict access controls and data protection; a breach could result in legal penalties, fines, or reputational damage.

Mitigation Strategies

Rotate all registration tokens immediately. Upgrade Rancher to a patched version. Restrict API access and audit etcd for exposed tokens. Remove any stored tokens in automation scripts or files.

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