# CVE-2025-9276: Cockroach Labs cockroach-k8s-request-cert Empty Root Password Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

> Remote attackers can bypass authentication and gain root access due to an empty root password in the container image configuration.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Sep 2025
- **Updated:** 3 Sep 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-f2xw-w9gh-q2h9

## What is CVE-2025-9276?

CVE-2025-9276 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in cockroach-k8s-request-cert, published on 2 Sep 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Cockroach Labs cockroach-k8s-request-cert Empty Root Password Authentication Bypass Vulnerability. This vulnerability could allow remote attackers to bypass authentication on systems that use the affected version of the Cockroach Labs cockroach-k8s-request-cert container image.

The specific flaw exists within the configuration of the system shadow file. The issue results from a blank password setting for the root user. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to bypass authentication on the system. Was ZDI-CAN-22195.

Weakness: CWE-258 (Empty Password in Configuration File)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-9276?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cockroachlabs Cockroach-K8s-Request-Cert.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-9276?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-9276 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-9276 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-9276 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-9276 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-9276 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in cockroach-k8s-request-cert, published on 2 Sep 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-9276 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: cockroach-k8s-request-cert. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9276/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9276/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-9276
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-9276
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-9276

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9276/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.