CVE-2025-53547: helm Code Injection — Fix

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.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

8.5

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-94 CWE-94

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
helm	helm	< 3.17.4
helm	helm	3.18.0 — 3.18.4

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/helm/helm/commit/4b8e61093d8f579f1165cdc6bd4b43fa5455f571

Other References

https://github.com/helm/helm/security/advisories/GHSA-557j-xg8c-q2mm https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44506696

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-53547? +

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. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.5 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2025-53547? +

CVE-2025-53547 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.5 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-53547? +

CVE-2025-53547 affects products from helm, specifically: helm. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-53547? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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