CVE-2025-53547

Helm Chart Dependency Updating With Malicious Chart.yaml Content And Symlink Can Lead To Code Execution

Published Jul 8, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 8.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Helm is a package manager for Charts for Kubernetes. Prior to 3.18.4, a specially crafted Chart.yaml file along with a specially linked Chart.lock file can lead to local code execution when dependencies are updated. Fields in a Chart.yaml file, that are carried over to a Chart.lock file when dependencies are updated and this file is written, can be crafted in a way that can cause execution if that same content were in a file that is executed (e.g., a bash.rc file or shell script). If the Chart.lock file is symlinked to one of these files updating dependencies will write the lock file content to the symlinked file. This can lead to unwanted execution. Helm warns of the symlinked file but did not stop execution due to symlinking. This issue has been resolved in Helm v3.18.4.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-20751 Helm vulnerable to Code Injection through malicious chart.yaml content
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-557j-xg8c-q2mm Helm vulnerable to Code Injection through malicious chart.yaml content
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:helm:helm:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 9e-05}

epss

{'score': 7e-05}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Helm is a package manager for Charts for Kubernetes. Prior to 3.18.4, a specially crafted Chart.yaml file along with a specially linked Chart.lock file can lead to local code execution when dependencies are updated. Fields in a Chart.yaml file, that are carried over to a Chart.lock file when dependencies are updated and this file is written, can be crafted in a way that can cause execution if that same content were in a file that is executed (e.g., a bash.rc file or shell script). If the Chart.lock file is symlinked to one of these files updating dependencies will write the lock file content to the symlinked file. This can lead to unwanted execution. Helm warns of the symlinked file but did not stop execution due to symlinking. This issue has been resolved in Helm v3.18.4.
Title Helm Chart Dependency Updating With Malicious Chart.yaml Content And Symlink Can Lead To Code Execution
Weaknesses CWE-94
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Feb 26, 2026, 5:51 PM
Reserved
Jul 2, 2025, 3:15 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 8, 2025, 10:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 9:38 AM
Severity
Important
Public date
Jul 8, 2025, 9:39 PM