CVE-2025-46599: Github.com/k3s io/k3s CNCF K3s Kubernetes Kubelet Configuration Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-864f-7xjm-2jp2
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CVSS 6.8
CWE-1188
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-46599 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.8) cncf k3s kubernetes kubelet configuration vulnerability (CWE-1188: Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default) affecting Github.com/k3s io/k3s libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves cncf k3s kubernetes kubelet configuration exposes credentials. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.32.4-rc1.

CVE-2025-46599 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-46599
GHSA Identifier GHSA-864f-7xjm-2jp2
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.8
CWE Classification CWE-1188: Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default
Affected Product Github.com/k3s io/k3s
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2025-46599

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/k3s io/k3s dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/k3s-io/k3s fixed: 1.32.4-rc1 
Upgrade github.com/k3s-io/k3s to 1.32.4-rc1
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for github.com/k3s-io/k3s

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2025-46599, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/k3s io/k3s:

inspect dependencies for github.com/k3s-io/k3s

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/k3s io/k3s in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.32.4-rc1), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-1188: Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default, where the product initializes or sets a resource with a default that is intended to be changed by the product's installer, administrator, or maintainer, but the default is not secure. In Github.com/k3s io/k3s, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

CNCF K3s 1.32 before 1.32.4-rc1+k3s1 has a Kubernetes kubelet configuration change with the unintended consequence that, in some situations, ReadOnlyPort is set to 10255. For example, the default behavior of a K3s online installation might allow unauthenticated access to this port, exposing credentials.

CVE-2025-46599 Affected Github.com/k3s io/k3s Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.32.4-rc1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/k3s-io/k3s
golang/github.com/k3s-io/k3s
Go
≥ 1.32.0-rc1
< 1.32.4-rc1
1.32.4-rc1

References

NVD — CVE-2025-46599 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-46599
Github.com/k3s io/k3s Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/f1veT/BUG/issues/2
Github.com/k3s io/k3s Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/issues/12164
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/commit/097b63e588e3c844cdf9b967bcd0a69f4fc0aa0a
cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/d... WEB
https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/how-to/disable-kubelet-readonly-port
Github.com/k3s io/k3s Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s
Github.com/k3s io/k3s Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/compare/v1.32.3+k3s1...v1.32.4-rc1+k3s1
pkg.go.dev/vuln/go-2025-3646 WEB
https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2025-3646

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-46599?
CVE-2025-46599 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/k3s io/k3s involving CNCF K3s Kubernetes kubelet configuration exposes credentials under CWE-1188: Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default.
Which Github.com/k3s io/k3s versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.32.4-rc1 across affected packages: github.com/k3s-io/k3s.
What version fixes CVE-2025-46599?
Upgrading to 1.32.4-rc1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/k3s-io/k3s affected?
Yes, github.com/k3s-io/k3s is affected in releases prior to 1.32.4-rc1. Upgrade your dependency to 1.32.4-rc1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-46599?
CVE-2025-46599 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-46599?
CVE-2025-46599 is classified under CWE-1188: Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default (The product initializes or sets a resource with a default that is intended to be changed by the product's installer, administrator, or maintainer, but the default is not secure.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2025-46599?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/k3s-io/k3s'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-864f-7xjm-2jp2",
  "modified" : "2025-05-05T21:57:30Z",
  "published" : "2025-04-25T06:30:56Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-46599" ],
  "summary" : "CNCF K3s Kubernetes kubelet configuration exposes credentials",
  "details" : "CNCF K3s 1.32 before 1.32.4-rc1+k3s1 has a Kubernetes kubelet configuration change with the unintended consequence that, in some situations, ReadOnlyPort is set to 10255. For example, the default behavior of a K3s online installation might allow unauthenticated access to this port, exposing credentials.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/k3s-io/k3s"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.32.0-rc1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.32.4-rc1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-46599"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/f1veT/BUG/issues/2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/issues/12164"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/commit/097b63e588e3c844cdf9b967bcd0a69f4fc0aa0a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/how-to/disable-kubelet-readonly-port"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/compare/v1.32.3+k3s1...v1.32.4-rc1+k3s1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2025-3646"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1188" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-25T15:07:32Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-04-25T05:15:33Z"
  }
}