Description
Strimzi provides a way to run an Apache Kafka cluster on Kubernetes or OpenShift in various deployment configurations. In Strimzi 1.0.0 and earlier, deploying only the Topic Operator or only the User Operator through the Kafka custom resource leaves the Entity Operator ServiceAccount with RBAC permissions for both components. The excess permissions can allow access to KafkaUser custom resources and Secrets when the User Operator is absent, or access to KafkaTopic custom resources when the Topic Operator is absent. This issue is fixed in versions 1.0.1 and 1.1.0.
Published: 2026-09-15
Score: 5.4 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-r427-j2h7-wv3m Strimzi: Unrestricted access to all Secrets within namespace watched by the Topic operator
History

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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


Tue, 15 Sep 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description When deploying only the Topic Operator or only the User Operator via the Kafka custom resource, the Entity Operator's ServiceAccount retains RBAC rights for both operators rather than scoping permissions to the one actually deployed. This allows the ServiceAccount to access KafkaUser custom resources and Secrets even when the User Operator is not deployed, or access KafkaTopic custom resources when the Topic Operator is not deployed, violating the principle of least privilege. There is no workaround for this issue. Fixed in Strimzi 1.0.1 and 1.1.0. Strimzi provides a way to run an Apache Kafka cluster on Kubernetes or OpenShift in various deployment configurations. In Strimzi 1.0.0 and earlier, deploying only the Topic Operator or only the User Operator through the Kafka custom resource leaves the Entity Operator ServiceAccount with RBAC permissions for both components. The excess permissions can allow access to KafkaUser custom resources and Secrets when the User Operator is absent, or access to KafkaTopic custom resources when the Topic Operator is absent. This issue is fixed in versions 1.0.1 and 1.1.0.
Title strimzi-cluster-operator: Unrestricted access to all Secrets within namespace watched by the Topic operator in Strimzi Strimzi: Unrestricted access to all Secrets within namespace watched by the Topic operator
Weaknesses CWE-269
References

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Strimzi
Strimzi kafka-operator
Vendors & Products Strimzi
Strimzi kafka-operator

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description When deploying only the Topic Operator or only the User Operator via the Kafka custom resource, the Entity Operator's ServiceAccount retains RBAC rights for both operators rather than scoping permissions to the one actually deployed. This allows the ServiceAccount to access KafkaUser custom resources and Secrets even when the User Operator is not deployed, or access KafkaTopic custom resources when the Topic Operator is not deployed, violating the principle of least privilege. There is no workaround for this issue. Fixed in Strimzi 1.0.1 and 1.1.0.
Title strimzi-cluster-operator: Unrestricted access to all Secrets within namespace watched by the Topic operator in Strimzi
Weaknesses CWE-272
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N'}

threat_severity

Moderate


Subscriptions

Strimzi Kafka-operator
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-16T15:02:50.239Z

Reserved: 2026-06-16T16:16:32.628Z

Link: CVE-2026-55226

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-16T15:02:47.240Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-15T18:17:23.807

Modified: 2026-09-16T16:17:09.250

Link: CVE-2026-55226

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-06-17T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-55226 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-16T02:30:07Z

Weaknesses