Critical CVE-2025-32445 Vulnerability in Argo Events Scores CVSS 10

This security issue gives an attacker the ability to exploit a vulnerability in Argo Events, enabling users with permission to create or modify EventSource and Sensor custom resources to gain privileged access to the host system and cluster, bypassing direct administrative privileges. The following protection guardrails can further prevent the following steps an attacker can take: When an attacker crafts a malicious custom resource to specify container properties like `privileged: true` and add `SYS_ADMIN` capabilities, **Container Capability Control** helps prevent the pod from being created with these escalated privileges by enforcing policies that disallow such settings, thereby blocking the initial privilege escalation attempt. Should an attacker somehow gain a privileged pod, they might then attempt to execute new, unauthorized binaries or scripts within this compromised container, such as tools to access the host system or install persistence mechanisms like a reverse shell; **Container Drift Protection (Binaries & Scripts)** helps prevent this by blocking the execution of any executables not part of the original container image, limiting the attacker's ability to run custom tools. Furthermore, if the attacker tries to run commands or tools, for instance, to inspect the host's process list using `ps` or `crictl`, or install network sniffing tools like `tcpdump` from non-standard or disallowed locations within the pod or the mounted host filesystem, **Process Path Exec Allow** helps prevent such execution by enforcing an allowlist for executable paths, thus restricting the attacker's command execution capabilities. If the attacker, having gained host root equivalent access (e.g., via chroot), uses `nsenter` to enter other containers' namespaces then the **Namespace Execution Guard** blocks host root from using `nsenter` to enter container namespaces. Finally, if the attacker attempts to load malicious shared libraries from untrusted paths within the compromised pod or a subsequently accessed tenant's container to execute arbitrary code, **Library Load Path Allow** helps prevent this by blocking library loading from non-allowed paths, hindering code injection attempts.

• T1199: Trusted Relationship: The article describes a vulnerability in Argo Events that allows users with permission to create or modify EventSource and Sensor custom resources to gain privileged access to the host system and cluster. This involves exploiting the handling of EventSource and Sensor CRs by customizing container properties, which is a form of exploitation of a trusted relationship. The attacker can gain elevated privileges by setting the spec.template.container with properties like privileged: true and adding the SYS_ADMIN capability, thus escalating their privileges. This aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique for exploiting trusted relationships, where an attacker abuses a legitimate relationship to gain elevated access.
• T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation: The article details how the vulnerability in Argo Events can be exploited by modifying the spec.template.container section of EventSource and Sensor CRs to gain privileged access to the cluster host. This includes settings such as privileged: true and adding the SYS_ADMIN capability, which allow the attacker to escalate their privileges within the Kubernetes environment. This matches the MITRE ATT&CK technique for container and system privilege escalation, where an attacker exploits a weakness to gain higher privileges.
• T1005: Data from Local System: The vulnerability allows an attacker to mount the host's root filesystem by exploiting the customization capabilities of the spec.template.container. This action provides the attacker with access to the host system's filesystem, effectively allowing them to break tenant isolation and access other tenants' data. This corresponds to the MITRE ATT&CK technique for data from local system, where an attacker gains access to and exfiltrates data from the local filesystem.
• T1562: Impair Defenses: By exploiting the vulnerability, the attacker can bypass security models, including RBAC restrictions and Pod Security Policies/Standards. This indicates a circumvention of access controls, which is a core concept in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for access control bypass. This involves exploiting vulnerabilities or misconfigurations to gain access to resources that should be restricted.