CVE-2025-4437

Cri-o: large /etc/passwd file may lead to denial of service

Published Aug 20, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 5.7 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
There's a vulnerability in the CRI-O application where when container is launched with securityContext.runAsUser specifying a non-existent user, CRI-O attempts to create the user, reading the container's entire /etc/passwd file into memory. If this file is excessively large, it can cause the a high memory consumption leading applications to be killed due to out-of-memory. As a result a denial-of-service can be achieved, possibly disrupting other pods and services running in the same host.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

As for now there's no available mitigation for this flaw.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-28020 There's a vulnerability in the CRI-O application where when container is launched with securityContext.runAsUser specifying a non-existent user, CRI-O attempts to create the user, reading the container's entire /etc/passwd file into memory. If this file is excessively large, it can cause the a high memory consumption leading applications to be killed due to out-of-memory. As a result a denial-of-service can be achieved, possibly disrupting other pods and services running in the same host.
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-8f93-j3fx-72f3 CRI-O has Potential High Memory Consumption from File Read
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description No description is available for this CVE. There's a vulnerability in the CRI-O application where when container is launched with securityContext.runAsUser specifying a non-existent user, CRI-O attempts to create the user, reading the container's entire /etc/passwd file into memory. If this file is excessively large, it can cause the a high memory consumption leading applications to be killed due to out-of-memory. As a result a denial-of-service can be achieved, possibly disrupting other pods and services running in the same host.
Title cri-o: Large /etc/passwd file may lead to Denial of Service Cri-o: large /etc/passwd file may lead to denial of service
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat openshift
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:4
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat openshift
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description No description is available for this CVE.
Title cri-o: Large /etc/passwd file may lead to Denial of Service
Weaknesses CWE-770
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Sep 1, 2026, 11:51 AM
Reserved
May 8, 2025, 3:35 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Aug 20, 2025, 1:15 PM
Modified
Sep 26, 2026, 12:10 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jun 26, 2025, 12:00 AM