CVE-2025-57850 is a vulnerability identified in Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces, particularly in certain CodeReady Workspaces container images. The root cause is the incorrect default permissions set on the /etc/passwd file during the container image build process, where the file is created with group-writable permissions. This misconfiguration allows any user who is part of the root group inside the container to modify /etc/passwd. Since /etc/passwd controls user account information, an attacker with command execution capabilities inside the container can add a new user entry with an arbitrary user ID, including UID 0, which corresponds to root privileges. This effectively enables privilege escalation from a non-root user to root within the container environment. The vulnerability requires that the attacker already have the ability to execute commands inside the container and be a member of the root group, which implies a high privilege level within the container context. The CVSS score is 5.2 (medium severity), reflecting the local attack vector, the need for high privileges, and the absence of user interaction. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a risk for containerized environments where multiple users share container access or where container images are built with insecure defaults. The issue underscores the importance of secure container image build practices and runtime security controls in Kubernetes/OpenShift environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation within containerized development environments, potentially allowing attackers to gain root-level access inside affected containers. This can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of containerized applications and data, and may facilitate lateral movement or persistence within the container orchestration infrastructure. Organizations relying on Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces and CodeReady Workspaces for development or deployment could see increased risk of insider threats or exploitation by attackers who gain initial container access. The impact is particularly significant in regulated industries or sectors with sensitive data, such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, where container security is paramount. Additionally, compromised containers could serve as a foothold for further attacks on the underlying host or cluster if other vulnerabilities exist. The medium severity rating indicates that while the vulnerability is not trivially exploitable from outside the container, the consequences of exploitation are serious within the container context.

1. Apply official patches or updates from Red Hat as soon as they become available to address the incorrect permissions on /etc/passwd in affected container images. 2. Review and harden container image build processes to ensure that critical system files like /etc/passwd are created with secure, non-writable group permissions. 3. Implement strict container runtime security policies that limit group memberships and restrict capabilities, minimizing the number of users with root group privileges inside containers. 4. Use container security scanning tools to detect insecure file permissions and privilege escalation risks in container images before deployment. 5. Enforce the principle of least privilege for users and processes inside containers, avoiding unnecessary group memberships or elevated privileges. 6. Monitor container environments for unusual modifications to system files and unexpected user account changes. 7. Consider adopting security frameworks such as OpenShift Security Context Constraints (SCC) to restrict container privileges and capabilities. 8. Educate developers and DevOps teams about secure container image creation and the risks of misconfigured permissions.