# CVE-2025-1974: ingress-nginx admission controller RCE escalation

> CVE-2025-1974 (GitHub advisory GHSA-mgvx-rpfc-9mpv) is a critical-severity vulnerability with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, classed as Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization (CWE-653), in k8s.io/ingress-nginx (Go). Affected versions: < 1.11.5; >= 1.12.0-beta.0, < 1.12.1. It is fixed in 1.11.5 or 1.12.1, depending on the release line.

Canonical page: https://cveminer.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-2025-1974

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| CVE | CVE-2025-1974 |
| GHSA | GHSA-mgvx-rpfc-9mpv |
| Severity | Critical |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` (GitHub Advisory Database) |
| CWE | CWE-653 Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization |
| EPSS | 99.52% (higher than 99.9% of CVEs) |
| CISA KEV | Not listed |
| SSVC | exploitation poc, automatable yes, technical impact total |
| Published | 24 Mar 2025 |
| Modified | 26 Feb 2026 |

## Description

A security issue was discovered in Kubernetes where under certain conditions, an unauthenticated attacker with access to the pod network can achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the ingress-nginx controller. This can lead to disclosure of Secrets accessible to the controller. (Note that in the default installation, the controller can access all Secrets cluster-wide.)

## Affected packages

| Package | Ecosystem | PURL | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| k8s.io/ingress-nginx | Go | `pkg:golang/k8s.io/ingress-nginx` | < 1.11.5; >= 1.12.0-beta.0, < 1.12.1 | 1.11.5, 1.12.1 |

## Questions

**What is the GHSA ID for CVE-2025-1974?**

GitHub tracks CVE-2025-1974 as GHSA-mgvx-rpfc-9mpv.

**What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-1974?**

CVE-2025-1974 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (Critical), vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

**Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-1974?**

k8s.io/ingress-nginx (Go): < 1.11.5; >= 1.12.0-beta.0, < 1.12.1.

**How do I fix CVE-2025-1974?**

Upgrade to 1.11.5 or 1.12.1, depending on the release line.

**What is the Package URL (PURL) for CVE-2025-1974?**

The affected package's PURL is pkg:golang/k8s.io/ingress-nginx.

**Is CVE-2025-1974 exploited in the wild?**

CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog doesn't list CVE-2025-1974. That means no confirmed exploitation has been catalogued, not that it is safe to leave unpatched. CISA's SSVC assessment rates exploitation as "poc". EPSS estimates a 99.52% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of CVEs.

## References

- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-1974 (advisory)
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20250328-0008 (advisory)
- https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2025/1xxx/CVE-2025-1974.json (advisory)
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-mgvx-rpfc-9mpv (advisory)
- https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/131009 (report)
- https://https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/131009 (report)
- https://github.com/B1ack4sh/Blackash-CVE-2025-1974 (evidence)
- https://github.com/kubernetes/ingress-nginx (package)
- https://github.com/kubernetes/ingress-nginx/releases/tag/controller-v1.11.5
- https://github.com/kubernetes/ingress-nginx/releases/tag/controller-v1.12.1
- https://groups.google.com/g/kubernetes-security-announce/c/2qa9DFtN0cQ
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/52475

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Source: CVEminer (https://cveminer.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-2025-1974), compiled from OSV (GitHub advisory), GitHub Advisory Database, OSV (CVE record), CVE.org, CISA KEV catalog. OSV and GitHub Advisory Database content is licensed CC BY 4.0.