CVE-2026-50240: Pipelines-as-code: openshift-pipelines-operator-rh: pipelines-as-code: repository users can trigger namespace edit-equivalent execution via auto-provisioned pipeline serviceaccount
Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.
Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-11 15:49 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.
What it is
A flaw was found in OpenShift Pipelines-as-Code (PAC). PAC does not verify whether the creator of a Repository custom resource has permission to create PipelineRuns. A namespace user with only Repository and Secret create/delete permissions can cause PAC to execute attacker-controlled PipelineRuns as the auto-provisioned pipeline ServiceAccount, which carries ClusterRole/edit by default. This results in namespace-scoped privilege escalation, enabling Secret read, resource creation/modification/deletion, and potential supply chain injection in CI/CD namespaces.
Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by redhat, published 2026-11-06).
Weakness: Missing Authorization
How it can be exploited
Exploitable over the network with low attack complexity needing low privileges and no user interaction. Impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA has no evidence of exploitation. Automatable: no. Technical impact: total.
Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)
Exploit Observer has no public exploit code naming this CVE. Check Exploit Observer for anything new.
Live scores
- EPSS
- 0.004
low predicted chance of attack - VEDAS
- 0.972
strong exploit evidence - On CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Detection rule
- No public rule yet
Who is affected
| Product | Affected | Not affected |
|---|---|---|
| (pipelines-as-code) | before 0.42.4 from 0.43.0 before 0.48.2 from 0.49.0 before 0.50.1 | Not stated |
| Red Hat Builds for Red Hat OpenShift (openshift-builds/openshift-builds-rhel9-operator) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines-client) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-cli-tkn-rhel8) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-cli-tkn-rhel9) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-opc-rhel9) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-operator-proxy-rhel8) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-operator-proxy-rhel9) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-operator-webhook-rhel8) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-operator-webhook-rhel9) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-pipelines-as-code-cli-rhel8) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-pipelines-as-code-cli-rhel9) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-pipelines-as-code-controller-rhel8) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-pipelines-as-code-controller-rhel9) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-pipelines-as-code-watcher-rhel8) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-pipelines-as-code-watcher-rhel9) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-pipelines-as-code-webhook-rhel8) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-pipelines-as-code-webhook-rhel9) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-rhel8-operator) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines (openshift-pipelines/pipelines-rhel9-operator) | Not stated | Not stated |
5 more products are listed in the CVE record.
Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.
How to fix it
Fixed versions stated in the CVE record: 0.42.4, 0.48.2, 0.50.1.
How to detect it
There is no open VEDAS detection rule for this bug yet. It is listed on the detection gaps page if CISA has confirmed attacks.
References
Technical analysis and advisories
- RHBZ#2484752 (issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)
Other references
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-50240 (vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)
- https://github.com/openshift-pipelines/pipelines-as-code/commit/ac1ff2337fce1ffdf888f513c6202caa95853927
- https://github.com/tektoncd/pipelines-as-code/security/advisories/GHSA-8m5v-wh4r-5j96
Other databases
Where this comes from
This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.
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