CVE-2025-7195: Incorrect Default Permissions in operator-framework operator-sdk
Early versions of Operator-SDK provided an insecure method to allow operator containers to run in environments that used a random UID. Operator-SDK before 0.15.2 provided a script, user_setup, which modifies the permissions of the /etc/passwd file to 664 during build time. Developers who used Operator-SDK before 0.15.2 to scaffold their operator may still be impacted by this if the insecure user_setup script is still being used to build new container images. In affected images, the /etc/passwd file is created during build time with group-writable permissions and a group ownership of root (gid=0). An attacker who can execute commands within an affected container, even as a non-root user, may be able to leverage their membership in the root group to modify the /etc/passwd file. This could allow the attacker to add a new user with any arbitrary UID, including UID 0, leading to full root privileges within the container.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
Operator-SDK versions prior to 0.15.2 included a user_setup script that insecurely modified /etc/passwd permissions to 664 and set group ownership to root during container image build. This configuration allows any user in the root group within the container to alter /etc/passwd, potentially adding users with any UID, including root (UID 0). Exploitation requires the ability to execute commands inside the container but does not require root privileges initially. The vulnerability affects container images scaffolded with vulnerable Operator-SDK versions if the insecure user_setup script is still used. Red Hat has released updated OpenShift Virtualization images that address this issue.
Potential Impact
An attacker who can execute commands inside an affected container, even without root privileges, may escalate to full root privileges by modifying the /etc/passwd file due to its insecure group-writable permissions and group ownership. This could lead to complete compromise of the container environment. The CVSS score of 6.4 reflects a medium severity impact with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts within the container context.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat advisories confirm that updated OpenShift Virtualization images (e.g., versions 4.18.25 and 4.20.3) include fixes for CVE-2025-7195. Users should update to these fixed images or later versions to remediate the vulnerability. Developers should avoid using the insecure user_setup script when building container images and ensure that /etc/passwd permissions are correctly set to prevent group-writable access. Patch status is confirmed by vendor advisories indicating official fixes are available.
CVE-2025-7195: Incorrect Default Permissions in operator-framework operator-sdk
Description
Early versions of Operator-SDK provided an insecure method to allow operator containers to run in environments that used a random UID. Operator-SDK before 0.15.2 provided a script, user_setup, which modifies the permissions of the /etc/passwd file to 664 during build time. Developers who used Operator-SDK before 0.15.2 to scaffold their operator may still be impacted by this if the insecure user_setup script is still being used to build new container images. In affected images, the /etc/passwd file is created during build time with group-writable permissions and a group ownership of root (gid=0). An attacker who can execute commands within an affected container, even as a non-root user, may be able to leverage their membership in the root group to modify the /etc/passwd file. This could allow the attacker to add a new user with any arbitrary UID, including UID 0, leading to full root privileges within the container.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
Operator-SDK versions prior to 0.15.2 included a user_setup script that insecurely modified /etc/passwd permissions to 664 and set group ownership to root during container image build. This configuration allows any user in the root group within the container to alter /etc/passwd, potentially adding users with any UID, including root (UID 0). Exploitation requires the ability to execute commands inside the container but does not require root privileges initially. The vulnerability affects container images scaffolded with vulnerable Operator-SDK versions if the insecure user_setup script is still used. Red Hat has released updated OpenShift Virtualization images that address this issue.
Potential Impact
An attacker who can execute commands inside an affected container, even without root privileges, may escalate to full root privileges by modifying the /etc/passwd file due to its insecure group-writable permissions and group ownership. This could lead to complete compromise of the container environment. The CVSS score of 6.4 reflects a medium severity impact with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts within the container context.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat advisories confirm that updated OpenShift Virtualization images (e.g., versions 4.18.25 and 4.20.3) include fixes for CVE-2025-7195. Users should update to these fixed images or later versions to remediate the vulnerability. Developers should avoid using the insecure user_setup script when building container images and ensure that /etc/passwd permissions are correctly set to prevent group-writable access. Patch status is confirmed by vendor advisories indicating official fixes are available.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- redhat
- Date Reserved
- 2025-07-07T08:45:21.278Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6894fbd9ad5a09ad00fc400a
Added to database: 8/7/2025, 7:17:45 PM
Last enriched: 4/17/2026, 11:09:40 AM
Last updated: 5/10/2026, 1:27:58 PM
Views: 162
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