Overview
CVE-2025-3528 is a high-severity vulnerability found in the Mirror Registry for OpenShift. The flaw, which resides in the quay-app container, allows a malicious actor with access to the container to modify the passwd file. This can potentially lead the attacker to gain root level privileges within the pod, opening up the system to compromise or data leakage. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for businesses and organizations that rely on the Mirror Registry for OpenShift for their operational workflows.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-3528
Severity: High (8.2 CVSS)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Mirror Registry for OpenShift | All versions prior to the patch
How the Exploit Works
The quay-app container in the Mirror Registry for OpenShift has write access to the `/etc/passwd` file. A malicious actor who gains access to the container can exploit this flaw to modify the passwd file. By modifying this file, an attacker can manipulate user account data, including user IDs and privileges. This can lead to an escalation of privileges, allowing the attacker to operate as the root user within the pod. Being the root user, the attacker can perform any operation on the system, leading to potential system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
The following is a conceptual example of a shell command an attacker might use to exploit this vulnerability:
echo 'root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash' >> /etc/passwdThis command appends a new line to the `/etc/passwd` file, essentially creating a new root user. The ‘x’ symbolizes a password that is stored in a shadow file, and the ‘0:0’ indicates the user and group ID, both set to 0 for root level privileges. ‘/root:/bin/bash’ sets the home directory and default shell for the user.
Mitigation Measures
The most effective mitigation measure for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-supplied patch. Until the patch can be applied, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation by monitoring and blocking suspicious activities within the container. It is also recommended to follow the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users and processes only have the minimum privileges necessary to perform their function. This can help to limit the potential impact of this vulnerability.