CVE-2025-1974: kubernetes ingress-nginx · Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization
Affects kubernetes ingress-nginxSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · public exploit available (Exploit-DB) · 99% EPSS · CVSS 9.8 Critical.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 08:30 UTC
- EPSS
- 99.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 99% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 24 Mar 2025
Detectable: evidence found.
nuclei template: Ingress-Nginx Controller - Remote Code Execution
Weaponised: evidence found.
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
Timeline
CVE ID reserved
by Kubernetes
, 20 days before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
, t = 0
First Exploit-DB entry (opens in a new tab)
Ingress-NGINX 4.11.0 - Remote Code Execution (RCE) +1 more
, 88 days after disclosure
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
GitHubkubernetes/ingress-nginxpkg:github/kubernetes/ingress-nginxOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2025-1974, organizations should immediately upgrade ingress-nginx controllers to a patched version beyond 1.12.0 once available. Until patches are released, implement strict network segmentation to restrict pod network access only to trusted entities, minimizing exposure to unauthenticated attackers. Employ Kubernetes Network Policies to limit communication to the ingress-nginx pods. Review and reduce the permissions granted to the ingress-nginx controller, especially its access to Secrets, by adopting the principle of least privilege and using Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to restrict Secret access scope. Enable audit logging to detect anomalous access patterns to ingress-nginx and Secrets. Consider deploying runtime security tools that monitor and restrict code execution within ingress-nginx pods. Regularly scan clusters for outdated ingress-nginx versions and vulnerable configurations. Finally, educate DevOps and security teams about the risks of pod network exposure and enforce secure cluster design principles to prevent unauthorized pod network access.
Description
A security issue was discovered in Kubernetes where under certain conditions, an unauthenticated attacker with access to the pod network can achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the ingress-nginx controller. This can lead to disclosure of Secrets accessible to the controller. (Note that in the default installation, the controller can access all Secrets cluster-wide.)