CVE-2025-64433
CVE-2025-64433 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Kubevirt with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5. 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-22.
Key facts
- Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.5)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (38th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-38217
- Weakness: CWE-22
- Affected product: Kubevirt
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
KubeVirt is a virtual machine management add-on for Kubernetes. Prior to 1.5.3 and 1.6.1, a vulnerability was discovered that allows a VM to read arbitrary files from the virt-launcher pod's file system. This issue stems from improper symlink handling when mounting PVC disks into a VM. Specifically, if a malicious user has full or partial control over the contents of a PVC, they can create a symbolic link that points to a file within the virt-launcher pod's file system. Since libvirt can treat regular files as block devices, any file on the pod's file system that is symlinked in this way can be mounted into the VM and subsequently read. Although a security mechanism exists where VMs are executed as an unprivileged user with UID 107 inside the virt-launcher container, limiting the scope of accessible resources, this restriction is bypassed due to a second vulnerability. The latter causes the ownership of any file intended for mounting to be changed to the unprivileged user with UID 107 prior to mounting. As a result, an attacker can gain access to and read arbitrary files located within the virt-launcher pod's file system or on a mounted PVC from within the guest VM. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.5.3 and 1.6.1.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2025-64433?
- KubeVirt is a virtual machine management add-on for Kubernetes. Prior to 1.5.3 and 1.6.1, a vulnerability was discovered that allows a VM to read arbitrary files from the virt-launcher pod's file system. This issue stems from improper symlink handling when mounting PVC disks into a VM. Specifically, if a malicious user has full or partial control over the contents of a PVC, they can create a symbolic link that points to a file within the virt-launcher pod's file system. Since libvirt can treat regular files as block devices, any file on the pod's file system that is symlinked in this way can be mounted into the VM and subsequently read. Although a security mechanism exists where VMs are executed as an unprivileged user with UID 107 inside the virt-launcher container, limiting the scope of accessible resources, this restriction is bypassed due to a second vulnerability. The latter causes the ownership of any file intended for mounting to be changed to the unprivileged user with UID 107 prior to mounting. As a result, an attacker can gain access to and read arbitrary files located within the virt-launcher pod's file system or on a mounted PVC from within the guest VM. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.5.3 and 1.6.1.
- How severe is CVE-2025-64433?
- CVE-2025-64433 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
- Is CVE-2025-64433 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2025-64433?
- CVE-2025-64433 primarily affects Kubevirt. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2025-64433?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
- Does CVE-2025-64433 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2025-64433 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-38217.
- When was CVE-2025-64433 published?
- CVE-2025-64433 was published on 2025-11-07 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://github.com/kubevirt/kubevirt/commit/09eafa068ec01eca0e96ebafeeb9522a878dbf64
- https://github.com/kubevirt/kubevirt/commit/9dc798cb1efe924a9a2b97b6e016452dec5e3849
- https://github.com/kubevirt/kubevirt/commit/a81b27d4600cf654274dd197119658382affdb08
- https://github.com/kubevirt/kubevirt/security/advisories/GHSA-qw6q-3pgr-5cwq
Affected products (6)
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:*:*:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:-:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:alpha0:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:beta0:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:rc0:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:kubevirt:kubevirt:1.6.0:rc1:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*
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