High severity · published Jul 8, 2025
CVE-2025-53547
Helm Chart Dependency Updating With Malicious Chart.yaml Content And Symlink Can Lead To Code Execution
8.6
CVSS
0.5%
EPSS
No
On KEV
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.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.5% · higher than 40% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
HE
helm · helm
< 3.18.4 · source: vendor, NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-53547
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-53547
Patch
https://github.com/helm/helm/commit/4b8e61093d8f579f1165cdc6bd4b43fa5455f571
Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/helm/helm/security/advisories/GHSA-557j-xg8c-q2mm
Issue Tracking
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44506696
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