CVE-2025-9230/9231 Vulnerabilities In AKV2K8s 1.8.0/1.8.1

This article addresses a critical security concern regarding the CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231 vulnerabilities detected in the AKV2K8s (Azure Key Vault to Kubernetes) controller images versions 1.8.0 and 1.8.1. This issue was brought to light by a user, SparebankenVest, who identified these vulnerabilities during a Snyk scan. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the vulnerabilities, their impact, and the necessary steps to mitigate them. Before diving in, it’s recommended to check the known issues page to ensure the problem isn't already documented. Let's explore the details of these vulnerabilities and how they affect your Kubernetes deployments.

Understanding the Vulnerabilities: CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231

The vulnerabilities CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231 have been identified within the OpenSSL library, specifically version 3.5.1-r0, which is utilized in the AKV2K8s controller images 1.8.0 and 1.8.1. These vulnerabilities, while currently classified as low severity with a CVSS score of None, should not be disregarded. Even low-severity vulnerabilities can be exploited in conjunction with other weaknesses to create more significant security risks. It's essential to understand the nature of these vulnerabilities to assess their potential impact on your systems.

What is OpenSSL and Why is it Important?

OpenSSL is a widely-used, robust, commercial-grade toolkit for general-purpose cryptography and secure communication. It provides an open-source implementation of the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. These protocols are fundamental for encrypting data transmitted over the internet, ensuring secure communication between clients and servers. OpenSSL is used in a vast array of applications, including web servers, email servers, VPNs, and many more. Given its widespread use, vulnerabilities in OpenSSL can have far-reaching consequences.

Details of CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231

Both CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231 are related to the OpenSSL library. Although the specific details of these vulnerabilities are not provided in the initial report, the Snyk scan results indicate that they affect OpenSSL version 3.5.1-r0. It is crucial to consult the official CVE descriptions and OpenSSL advisories for in-depth information about the nature of these vulnerabilities. These resources will provide clarity on the specific attack vectors and potential impacts. Generally, OpenSSL vulnerabilities can range from denial-of-service (DoS) attacks to information disclosure and even remote code execution, depending on the flaw and the context in which OpenSSL is used.

Impact on AKV2K8s Controller Images

The presence of these vulnerabilities in the AKV2K8s controller images means that any deployments using versions 1.8.0 and 1.8.1 are potentially at risk. While the vulnerabilities are classified as low severity, it is essential to take them seriously. The AKV2K8s controller is responsible for managing secrets from Azure Key Vault within Kubernetes, making it a critical component of your infrastructure. Any compromise of the controller could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, impacting the security and integrity of your applications.

Reproducing the Issue and Expected Behavior

To identify these vulnerabilities, the user, SparebankenVest, ran a Snyk scan with appropriate plugins against the AKV2K8s controller images. This is a standard practice in software development and security to proactively detect potential weaknesses. The scan results clearly indicated the presence of CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231 in the specified controller image versions.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Obtain AKV2K8s Controller Images: Ensure you have the controller images for versions 1.8.0 and 1.8.1 available.
2. Set Up Snyk: Install and configure the Snyk CLI or integrate Snyk into your CI/CD pipeline.
3. Run Snyk Scan: Execute a Snyk scan against the controller images using the appropriate plugins for container image scanning. Snyk will analyze the image layers and identify any known vulnerabilities.
4. Review Results: Examine the scan results to confirm the presence of CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is that the Snyk scan should not report any vulnerabilities for the controller images. A clean scan indicates that the images do not contain any known security flaws, ensuring a more secure deployment environment. The presence of CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231 deviates from this expected behavior, highlighting the need for remediation.

Analyzing the Logs and Snyk Scan Results

The provided logs from the Snyk scan offer valuable insights into the vulnerabilities. Let's break down the information presented in the log table:

Key Observations

• Plugin ID: These IDs are specific to Snyk and help track the vulnerability within the Snyk ecosystem.
• Identifiers: This column lists the CVE identifiers, which are standard references for publicly known security vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231 are the primary focus of this issue.
• Severity: Both vulnerabilities are classified as LOW severity. While this might seem less critical, it's important to address them to prevent potential exploitation.
• CVSS Score: The CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) score is None, which suggests that these vulnerabilities might not have a direct impact on confidentiality, integrity, or availability. However, this does not mean they are harmless.
• Title: The title simply reiterates the CVE identifiers.
• Package: The affected package is openssl:3.5.1-r0, confirming that the vulnerabilities are within the OpenSSL library.
• FixIn: This column indicates that the vulnerabilities are fixed in OpenSSL version 3.5.4-r0. This information is crucial for determining the necessary steps to remediate the issue.

Remediation Steps and Recommendations

Addressing these vulnerabilities is crucial to maintaining a secure AKV2K8s deployment. The Snyk scan results provide a clear path to remediation: upgrade the OpenSSL library to version 3.5.4-r0 or later.

Steps to Remediate

1. Update Controller Images: The most effective way to address these vulnerabilities is to update the AKV2K8s controller images to a version that includes OpenSSL 3.5.4-r0 or later. Check the AKV2K8s release notes or contact the maintainers to determine if a patched version is available.
2. Rebuild Images: If a patched version is not immediately available, you can rebuild the controller images with an updated OpenSSL library. This involves modifying the Dockerfile used to build the images and specifying the newer OpenSSL version. Ensure that you thoroughly test the rebuilt images to confirm that the update has resolved the vulnerabilities and has not introduced any regressions.
3. Implement a Patching Strategy: Establish a robust patching strategy for your container images. This includes regularly scanning images for vulnerabilities and promptly applying updates or patches as they become available. Tools like Snyk, Aqua Security, and Anchore can help automate this process.
4. Monitor for New Vulnerabilities: Security is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor for new vulnerabilities and stay informed about security advisories related to OpenSSL and other components used in your AKV2K8s deployment.

Best Practices for Secure Deployments

• Regularly Scan Images: Implement automated scanning of your container images as part of your CI/CD pipeline. This helps identify vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle.
• Use Minimal Images: Utilize minimal base images for your containers. These images contain only the essential components required to run your application, reducing the attack surface.
• Keep Dependencies Updated: Regularly update the dependencies in your application and container images. This includes libraries like OpenSSL, as well as other system packages.
• Follow Security Best Practices: Adhere to general security best practices for Kubernetes deployments, such as using RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) to restrict access to resources and implementing network policies to isolate workloads.

Conclusion

The discovery of CVE-2025-9230 and CVE-2025-9231 in AKV2K8s controller images 1.8.0 and 1.8.1 highlights the importance of proactive security measures. By identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities, you can significantly reduce the risk of potential security breaches. Upgrading to a patched version of the controller images or rebuilding them with OpenSSL 3.5.4-r0 is the recommended course of action. Remember, security is a continuous process, and regular scanning, patching, and monitoring are essential for maintaining a secure environment.

For more information on security best practices and vulnerability management, consider exploring resources from trusted sources like the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). This database provides comprehensive information on known vulnerabilities and their potential impact.