CVE-2025-54471 Overview
NeuVector shipped a hard-coded cryptographic key embedded directly in its source code. At compilation time, the placeholder value was replaced with the secret key and used to encrypt sensitive configurations when NeuVector persists data. Any attacker with access to the encrypted data store can recover the key and decrypt protected configuration secrets. The weakness is classified under [CWE-321: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key].
Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with low privileges can decrypt sensitive NeuVector configuration data because the encryption key is static across all deployments and recoverable from the published source code.
Affected Products
- NeuVector container security platform (see GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-h773-7gf7-9m2x)
- SUSE-distributed NeuVector packages (see SUSE Bug Report CVE-2025-54471)
- Kubernetes clusters running vulnerable NeuVector controller and enforcer components
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-10-30 - CVE-2025-54471 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-54471
Vulnerability Analysis
NeuVector uses symmetric encryption to protect sensitive configuration values stored by the controller. The encryption key is not derived per-installation or supplied through a secret management system. Instead, a placeholder in the source code is substituted with a fixed key value at build time. Every binary produced from that build shares the identical key.
An attacker who obtains a copy of the encrypted configuration store can reverse the encryption using the known key. The attack requires network reachability and low-privilege authentication to the NeuVector environment, but no user interaction. Successful exploitation exposes stored credentials, integration tokens, and other secrets managed by the platform.
Root Cause
The root cause is the use of a static cryptographic key embedded in the application binary. Hard-coded keys violate the principle that secrets must be unique per deployment and stored outside compiled artifacts. Because the key value is fixed at compile time, key rotation is not possible without releasing a new build, and reverse engineering or source inspection reveals the secret to any observer.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires access to the encrypted configuration blobs plus knowledge of the hard-coded key. An attacker with low-privilege credentials to the NeuVector control plane, or access to backups, etcd snapshots, or persistent volumes containing NeuVector state, can extract ciphertext and decrypt it offline. The vulnerability affects confidentiality only. Integrity and availability of the platform remain unchanged by this specific flaw.
Refer to the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-h773-7gf7-9m2x for vendor-supplied technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54471
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected read access to NeuVector configuration stores, etcd data, or persistent volumes containing controller state.
- Anomalous export or copy operations targeting NeuVector controller pods or backup archives.
- Use of NeuVector service account credentials from unfamiliar IP addresses or workloads.
Detection Strategies
- Audit Kubernetes RBAC to identify accounts with read access to NeuVector namespaces and secrets.
- Review controller logs for unusual configuration retrieval or API calls issued by low-privilege identities.
- Correlate access to NeuVector storage with subsequent outbound network activity that could indicate exfiltration.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Kubernetes audit logging for all get, list, and watch verbs against NeuVector resources.
- Alert on access to backup storage locations that hold NeuVector state or etcd snapshots.
- Track NeuVector version inventory across clusters to confirm patched builds are deployed.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54471
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade NeuVector to the fixed version identified in GHSA-h773-7gf7-9m2x.
- Rotate any credentials, tokens, and integration secrets previously stored inside NeuVector configuration.
- Restrict RBAC permissions so that only required service accounts can read NeuVector state.
Patch Information
SUSE and the NeuVector project have published fixes. Consult the SUSE Bug Report CVE-2025-54471 and the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-h773-7gf7-9m2x for fixed version numbers and upgrade procedures. Apply the vendor-supplied release, then verify that a per-installation key is generated during first-run bootstrap.
Workarounds
- Limit network exposure of the NeuVector controller API to trusted management networks only.
- Encrypt Kubernetes etcd at rest and restrict access to snapshots and volume backups that contain NeuVector state.
- Reduce authenticated user privileges within NeuVector to the minimum required for each role until patched builds are deployed.
# Configuration example
# Restrict access to the NeuVector namespace and rotate secrets after upgrade
kubectl auth can-i --list -n neuvector
kubectl rollout restart deployment/neuvector-controller-pod -n neuvector
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
