Overview
CVE-2025-57850 is a medium-severity container privilege escalation vulnerability affecting certain CodeReady Workspaces images. This flaw allows a non-root user within an affected container to potentially gain root privileges. This is achieved by exploiting insecure file permissions on the /etc/passwd file, which is writable by the root group.
Technical Details
The vulnerability arises because the /etc/passwd file within the affected CodeReady Workspaces container images is created with group-writable permissions during the image build process. While containers are designed to provide isolation, this specific configuration allows users who are members of the root group (which might be more permissive than intended in some setups) to modify the file. An attacker who can execute commands inside the container, even with limited non-root privileges, can leverage their membership in the root group to edit /etc/passwd. Specifically, they can add a new user entry with an arbitrary User ID (UID), including UID 0, which is traditionally associated with the root account. By adding a user with UID 0, the attacker effectively gains root privileges within the context of the container.
CVSS Analysis
This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.2, indicating a MEDIUM severity. The CVSS vector reflects the potential for privilege escalation. The base score considers the attack complexity, privileges required, user interaction, and scope change. While the exploit requires the attacker to already have some level of access within the container, the ability to escalate to root privileges makes this a significant security concern.
Possible Impact
The successful exploitation of CVE-2025-57850 can have serious consequences. An attacker gaining root privileges inside a CodeReady Workspaces container can:
- Access sensitive data stored within the container.
- Modify container configurations.
- Potentially compromise the underlying host system, depending on container runtime configurations and security policies.
- Disrupt the availability of CodeReady Workspaces services.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation is to update to a patched version of CodeReady Workspaces that addresses this vulnerability. Specifically, ensure that your CodeReady Workspaces images are built with a process that correctly sets the permissions of the /etc/passwd file, ensuring it is NOT group-writable.
Contact your CodeReady Workspaces vendor for the latest patches and updates. Ensure all CodeReady Workspaces instances are updated promptly to prevent exploitation.
Consider implementing additional container security measures such as:
- Using security context constraints (SCCs) to restrict container capabilities.
- Regularly scanning container images for vulnerabilities.
- Following the principle of least privilege when assigning permissions to container users.
