Description
A security issue was discovered in the Kubernetes Image Builder where default credentials are enabled during the Windows image build process when using the Nutanix or VMware OVA providers. These credentials, which allow root access, are disabled at the conclusion of the build. Kubernetes clusters are only affected if their nodes use VM images created via the Image Builder project and the vulnerability was exploited during the build process, which requires an attacker to access the build VM and modify the image while the build is in progress.
References (3)
Core 3
Core References
Mailing List mailing-list
https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/tuEsLUQu_PA
Issue Tracking issue-tracking
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/133115
Scores
CVSS v3
7.5
EPSS
0.0034
EPSS Percentile
25.2%
Attack Vector
NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA SSVC
Vulnrichment
Exploitation
none
Automatable
no
Technical Impact
total
Details
CWE
CWE-798
Status
published
Products (2)
Kubernetes/Image Builder
< 0.1.44
Kubernetes/Image Builder
0.1.45
Published
Aug 17, 2025
Tracked Since
Feb 18, 2026