cloud-init through 25.1.2 includes the systemd socket unit cloud-init-hotplugd.socket with default SocketMode that grants 0666 permissions, making it world-writable. This is used for the "/run/cloud-init/hook-hotplug-cmd" FIFO. An unprivileged user could trigger hotplug-hook commands.
When a non-x86 platform is detected, cloud-init grants root access to a hardcoded url with a local IP address. To prevent this, cloud-init default configurations disable platform enumeration.
A feature in LXD (LP#1829071), affects the default configuration of Ubuntu Server which allows privileged users in the lxd group to escalate their privilege to root without requiring a sudo password.
Sensitive data could be exposed in logs of cloud-init before version 23.1.2. An attacker could use this information to find hashed passwords and possibly escalate their privilege.
Sensitive data could be exposed in world readable logs of cloud-init before version 22.3 when schema failures are reported. This leak could include hashed passwords.
In cloud-init through 19.4, rand_user_password in cloudinit/config/cc_set_passwords.py has a small default pwlen value, which makes it easier for attackers to guess passwords.