CVE-2025-7445 is a vulnerability identified in the Kubernetes secrets-store-sync-controller component, specifically in versions prior to 0.0.2. This flaw involves the inadvertent insertion of sensitive information, namely service account tokens, into log files. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-532, which pertains to the insertion of sensitive information into log files, potentially exposing secrets to unauthorized parties who have access to these logs. The secrets-store-sync-controller is responsible for synchronizing secrets from external secret stores into Kubernetes secrets, facilitating secure management of sensitive data within Kubernetes clusters. The exposure of service account tokens in logs can lead to significant confidentiality breaches, as these tokens are used to authenticate and authorize service accounts within the Kubernetes environment. According to the CVSS v3.1 scoring, this vulnerability has a score of 6.5 (medium severity) with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N. This indicates that the attack vector requires local access, with low attack complexity and low privileges, no user interaction is needed, and the scope is changed, meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability impacts are none. No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, and no patches are currently linked, suggesting that remediation may still be pending or in progress. The vulnerability was published on September 5, 2025, with the reservation date on July 11, 2025.

For European organizations utilizing Kubernetes clusters with the secrets-store-sync-controller component, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of their service account tokens. Exposure of these tokens through logs can allow attackers with local access or insider threats to escalate privileges or move laterally within the cluster, potentially accessing sensitive workloads or data. Given the critical role of Kubernetes in cloud-native deployments across Europe, especially in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, the leakage of authentication tokens could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive applications and data. Although the vulnerability requires local access and low privileges, the changed scope means that compromise of one component could affect other parts of the cluster or connected systems. This risk is heightened in multi-tenant environments or managed Kubernetes services where logs might be aggregated or accessible by multiple parties. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability becomes widely known. The medium severity rating reflects the balance between the need for local access and the high confidentiality impact.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading the secrets-store-sync-controller to version 0.0.2 or later as soon as it becomes available to eliminate the vulnerability. In the interim, organizations should restrict access to log files containing Kubernetes controller logs to trusted administrators only, implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual access patterns. Employing log redaction or filtering mechanisms to prevent sensitive tokens from being recorded in logs can reduce exposure. Additionally, organizations should audit existing logs to identify any leaked tokens and revoke or rotate any service account tokens that may have been exposed. Implementing Kubernetes Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) policies to minimize the privileges of service accounts and limiting local access to nodes running the secrets-store-sync-controller can further reduce risk. Monitoring and alerting on anomalous usage of service account tokens can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should stay informed about patches and advisories from the Kubernetes project and apply updates promptly.