CVE-2025-57850

Codeready-ws: privilege escalation via excessive /etc/passwd permissions

Published Dec 2, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 6.4 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A container privilege escalation flaw was found in certain CodeReady Workspaces 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.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:openshift_devspaces:3: cpe:/a:redhat:openshift_devspaces:3
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

ssvc

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

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 A container privilege escalation flaw was found in certain CodeReady Workspaces 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.
Title Codeready-ws: privilege escalation via excessive /etc/passwd permissions
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat openshift Devspaces
Weaknesses CWE-276
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:openshift_devspaces:3:
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat openshift Devspaces
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Mar 12, 2026, 8:01 PM
Reserved
Aug 21, 2025, 2:40 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Dec 2, 2025, 7:15 PM
Modified
Oct 18, 2026, 6:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Dec 2, 2025, 3:49 PM