runAsNonRoot logic bypass for Windows containers
Priority LOW 35CWE-284Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-284.
Summary
Windows workloads can run as ContainerAdministrator even when those workloads set the runAsNonRoot option to true.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00211 11th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Kubernetes (Kubernetes): v1.22.14, v1.23.11, v1.24.5Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 1 fixed, 2 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes | Kubernetes | kubelet v1.22.0 - v1.22.13 to before v1.22.14; kubelet v1.23.0 - v1.23.10 to before v1.23.11; kubelet v1.24.0 - v1.24.4 to before v1.24.5 | v1.22.14, v1.23.11, v1.24.5 | Patch available | CNA |
- Kubernetes VendorKubernetes Affected kubelet v1.22.0 - v1.22.13 to before v1.22.14; kubelet v1.23.0 - v1.23.10 to before v1.23.11; kubelet v1.24.0 - v1.24.4 to before v1.24.5 Fixed in v1.22.14, v1.23.11, v1.24.5 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.20.0 – 1.21.0; 1.22.0 to before 1.22.14; 1.23.0 to before 1.23.11; 1.24.0 to before 1.24.5 | Vulnerable | Kubernetes |
- cpe:2.3:a:kubernetes:kubernetes:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.20.0 – 1.21.0; 1.22.0 to before 1.22.14; 1.23.0 to before 1.23.11; 1.24.0 to before 1.24.5 Vulnerable ·Kubernetes
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Kubernetes (Kubernetes) Fixed in v1.22.14, v1.23.11, v1.24.5
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2022:9096 Released 2023-01-30 · Red Hat rating ModerateRed Hat OpenShift support for Windows Containers 7.0.0 [security update]
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12 openshift4-wincw/windows-machine-config-rhel8-operator
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12 | Fixed | RHSA-2022:9096 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-25749
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vv2r-w4hf-7mhr
More Kubernetes vulnerabilities
- TI-2018-16130 Improper privilege management in Kubernetes CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2019-08418 Kubernetes kubelet exposes /debug/pprof info on healthz port CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
- TI-2023-05086 Kubernetes - Windows nodes - Insufficient input sanitization in in-tree storage plugin leads to privilege escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-03433 Kubernetes - Windows nodes - Insufficient input sanitization leads to privilege escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-02285 Bypass of seccomp profile enforcement CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
- TI-2017-14755 Link following in Kubernetes CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.6
Sources
- CVE-2021-25749 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-25749 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vv2r-w4hf-7mhr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-25749 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences