CVE-2025-57851

CVE-2025-57851 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Redhat Advanced Cluster Management For Kubernetes with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.4. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-276.

Key facts

Description

A container privilege escalation flaw was found in certain Multicluster Engine for Kubernetes images. This issue stems from the /etc/passwd file being created with group-writable permissions during build time. In certain conditions, an attacker who can execute commands within an affected container, even as a non-root user, can 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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-57851?
A container privilege escalation flaw was found in certain Multicluster Engine for Kubernetes images. This issue stems from the /etc/passwd file being created with group-writable permissions during build time. In certain conditions, an attacker who can execute commands within an affected container, even as a non-root user, can 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.
How severe is CVE-2025-57851?
CVE-2025-57851 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.4, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2025-57851 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (2nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2025-57851?
CVE-2025-57851 affects Redhat Advanced Cluster Management For Kubernetes. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2025-57851?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2025-57851 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2025-57851 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-209300.
When was CVE-2025-57851 published?
CVE-2025-57851 was published on 2026-04-08 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

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