etcd: Watch API authorization bypass via open-ended range requests
### Impact _What kind of vulnerability is it? Who is impacted?_ A user granted READ permission on a single, exact key can use the Watch gRPC API with `clientv3.WithFromKey()` (an open-ended, "from this key to the end of the keyspace" watch) to receive watch events for every key lexicographically greater than or equal to their permitted key — not just the one key they were granted. This is an authorization bypass in etcd's RBAC enforcement for the Watch API; Range/Get and DeleteRange requests are not affected. It only affects clusters with authentication enabled — clusters running without auth already allow unrestricted read access. ### Patches _Has the problem been patched? What versions should users upgrade to?_ This vulnerability is patched in the following versions: - etcd 3.7.1 - etcd 3.6.14 - etcd 3.5.33 ### Workarounds _Is there a way for users to fix or remediate the vulnerability without upgrading?_ If upgrading is not immediately possible, the following mitigations reduce exposure: - Audit READ grants. Any READ grant — even on one key — can be leveraged via Watch to read everything after it. Review who holds READ permissions and revoke/tighten any you wouldn't trust with full read access. - Restrict network access. Limit which hosts can reach etcd's client (gRPC) port via firewall rules or network policy, reducing who can attempt exploitation. ### Reporter - Luis Toro ([@lobuhi](https://github.com/lobuhi) on Github) - Anthropic and Adam Korczynski ([@AdamKorcz](https://github.com/AdamKorcz) on Github)
describes (1)
Related CVEs.
| ID | severity | exploitable | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-73499US | —OT elevated | — | ||
etcd is a distributed key-value store for the data of a distributed system. Prior to versions 3.5.33, 3.6.14, and 3.7.1, a user granted READ permission on a single exact key can us… | ||||
references
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/etcd-io/etcdPACKAGE
- https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/commit/6643f80602461a6095c9b294b6512fd9719bef41WEB
- https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/commit/afeaa624da19085b47fb5ccc7c22a8c421bc2eaeWEB
- https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/commit/e863b001bbf3367003a543aa3099db9892134cd7WEB
- https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/releases/tag/v3.5.33WEB
- https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/releases/tag/v3.6.14WEB
- https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/releases/tag/v3.7.1WEB
- https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/security/advisories/GHSA-xg4h-6gfc-h4m8WEB
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