* kubelet `--cert-dir` now defaults to `/var/lib/kubelet/pki`, in order to ensure bootstrapped and rotated certificates persist beyond a reboot. resolves an issue in kubeadm with false-positive `/var/lib/kubelet is not empty` message during pre-flight checks ([#53317](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/53317), [@liggitt](https://github.com/liggitt))...

### Node Components
* **Kubelet with the Docker-CRI implementation**
  * The Docker-CRI implementation is enabled by default.
  * It is not compatible with containers created by older Kubelets. It is
    recommended to drain your node before upgrade. If you choose to perform
    an in-place upgrade, the Kubelet will automatically restart all
    Kubernetes-managed containers on the node.

- kubelet: Users can now enable the alpha NodeLease feature gate to have the Kubelet create and periodically renew a Lease in the kube-node-lease namespace. The lease duration defaults to 40s, and can be configured via the kubelet.config.k8s.io/v1beta1.KubeletConfiguration's NodeLeaseDurationSeconds field. ([#66257](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/66257),...

to execute arbitrary commands on the host.

**Affected Versions**:
  - kubelet <= v1.29.12
  - kubelet <= v1.30.8
  - kubelet <= v1.31.4
  - kubelet = v1.32.0

**Fixed Versions**:
  - kubelet 1.29.13
  - kubelet 1.30.9
  - kubelet 1.31.5
  - kubelet 1.32.1

This vulnerability was reported by Peled, Tomer and mitigated by Aravindh Puthiyaprambil.

to execute arbitrary commands on the host.

**Affected Versions**:
  - kubelet <= v1.29.12
  - kubelet <= v1.30.8
  - kubelet <= v1.31.4
  - kubelet = v1.32.0

**Fixed Versions**:
  - kubelet 1.29.13
  - kubelet 1.30.9
  - kubelet 1.31.5
  - kubelet 1.32.1

This vulnerability was reported by Peled, Tomer and mitigated by Aravindh Puthiyaprambil.

- New configuration is introduced to the kubelet that allows it to track container images and the list of authentication information that leads to their successful pulls. This data is persisted across reboots of the host and restarts of the kubelet.
  

- kubelet
  - The deprecated `--google-json-key` flag has been removed. Remove the `--google-json-key` flag from kubelet invocations before upgrading. ([#69354](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/69354), [@yujuhong](https://github.com/yujuhong))

directories outside of the volume, including on the host filesystem.

**Affected Versions**:
  - kubelet v1.22.0 - v1.22.1
  - kubelet v1.21.0 - v1.21.4
  - kubelet v1.20.0 - v1.20.10
  - kubelet <= v1.19.14

**Fixed Versions**:
  - kubelet v1.22.2
  - kubelet v1.21.5
  - kubelet v1.20.11
  - kubelet v1.19.15

This vulnerability was reported by Fabricio Voznika and Mark Wolters of Google.

**Affected Versions**:
  - kubelet <= v1.28.0
  - kubelet <= v1.27.4
  - kubelet <= v1.26.7
  - kubelet <= v1.25.12
  - kubelet <= v1.24.16

**Fixed Versions**:
  - kubelet v1.28.1
  - kubelet v1.27.5
  - kubelet v1.26.8
  - kubelet v1.25.13
  - kubelet v1.24.17

* [alpha] Rotation of the server TLS certificate on the kubelet. See [TLS bootstrapping - approval controller](https://kubernetes.io/docs/admin/kubelet-tls-bootstrapping/#approval-controller).

* [alpha] Rotation of the client TLS certificate on the kubelet. See [TLS bootstrapping - kubelet configuration](https://kubernetes.io/docs/admin/kubelet-tls-bootstrapping/#kubelet-configuration).