Overview
CVE-2025-66404 identifies a security vulnerability within the exec_in_pod tool of MCP Server Kubernetes, a system designed to manage Kubernetes clusters. Versions prior to 2.9.8 are susceptible to command injection attacks. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when handling user-provided commands in string format. Specifically, the tool directly passes these strings to shell interpretation (sh -c) without proper sanitization, enabling the execution of arbitrary commands.
Technical Details
The exec_in_pod tool allows users to execute commands within Kubernetes pods. The vulnerability lies in how the tool processes commands provided in string format. When a user provides a command as a string, it’s directly passed to the sh -c shell interpreter. This means that shell metacharacters (e.g., ;, |, &, $()) can be used to inject arbitrary commands alongside the intended command. This can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or complete system compromise.
Furthermore, this vulnerability can be exploited through indirect prompt injection attacks, where AI agents interacting with the system might execute commands without explicit user consent, amplifying the potential impact.
CVSS Analysis
This vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 6.4, indicating a MEDIUM severity. The CVSS vector likely includes factors related to the attack complexity, required privileges, and potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Possible Impact
Exploitation of CVE-2025-66404 can have significant consequences:
- Remote Code Execution: Attackers can execute arbitrary commands on the Kubernetes cluster.
- Data Breach: Unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the cluster.
- Denial of Service: Disrupting the availability of applications and services running on the cluster.
- Privilege Escalation: Gaining elevated privileges within the Kubernetes environment.
- Indirect Prompt Injection: AI agents or automated systems interacting with the vulnerable component could be manipulated to execute unintended commands.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation is to upgrade MCP Server Kubernetes to version 2.9.8 or later. This version includes a fix that properly sanitizes user-provided commands, preventing command injection attacks.
If upgrading is not immediately feasible, consider implementing the following workarounds (though upgrading is the preferred solution):
- Input Validation: Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-provided commands.
- Principle of Least Privilege: Ensure that the MCP Server Kubernetes service account has only the necessary permissions to perform its intended functions.
- Network Segmentation: Restrict network access to the MCP Server Kubernetes component to minimize the potential impact of a successful attack.
References
Commit d091107ff92d9ffad1b3c295092f142d6578c48b on GitHub
GHSA-wvxp-jp4w-w8wg Security Advisory on GitHub
GHSA-wvxp-jp4w-w8wg Security Advisory on GitHub (Duplicate, but included for completeness)
