CVE-2025-7195 affects early versions of the Operator-SDK prior to 0.15.2, specifically due to an insecure user_setup script used during container image build time. This script modifies the /etc/passwd file permissions to 664 (group-writable) and sets its group ownership to root (gid=0). Normally, /etc/passwd should not be group-writable to prevent unauthorized modifications. In affected container images, any user who can execute commands inside the container and has membership in the root group can modify /etc/passwd. This modification can include adding new users with arbitrary UIDs, including UID 0, effectively granting root privileges inside the container. The vulnerability requires local access with high privileges (PR:H) but no user interaction (UI:N). The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must already have some level of access to the container environment. The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects integrity highly (I:H), with limited confidentiality (C:L) and availability (A:L) impacts. Although no known exploits are currently reported, the vulnerability poses a significant risk for containerized environments using affected Operator-SDK versions, especially in Kubernetes clusters where operators run with elevated privileges. The root cause is insecure default permissions set during build time, which can be exploited by attackers to escalate privileges within the container context.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a risk of privilege escalation within containerized Kubernetes operator environments. Attackers who gain limited access to affected containers could escalate to root privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, manipulation of containerized applications, or lateral movement within the cluster. This could compromise the integrity of critical cloud-native applications and services. Organizations relying on Operator-SDK versions before 0.15.2 and using the insecure user_setup script to build operator containers are particularly vulnerable. The impact is more pronounced in environments with multi-tenant Kubernetes clusters or where operators manage critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability could also undermine compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR if unauthorized access leads to data breaches. Given the increasing adoption of Kubernetes and operator frameworks in Europe, this vulnerability could affect a broad range of sectors including finance, healthcare, and government.

1. Upgrade Operator-SDK to version 0.15.2 or later, where the insecure user_setup script has been removed or corrected. 2. Rebuild all operator container images that were built using versions prior to 0.15.2 without using the insecure user_setup script to ensure /etc/passwd permissions are correctly set. 3. Audit existing operator containers for /etc/passwd permissions and group ownership; remediate any containers with group-writable /etc/passwd files. 4. Implement strict container runtime security policies that restrict group memberships and prevent unauthorized file permission changes. 5. Use Kubernetes Pod Security Policies or equivalent admission controllers to enforce least privilege and prevent containers from running with excessive permissions. 6. Monitor container logs and runtime behavior for suspicious activities indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 7. Educate development and DevOps teams about secure container image building practices and the risks of insecure default permissions. 8. Consider integrating automated security scanning tools into CI/CD pipelines to detect insecure file permissions in container images before deployment.