CVE-2025-41240 in bitnamicharts
Summary
by MITRE • 07/24/2025
Three Bitnami Helm charts mount Kubernetes Secrets under a predictable path (/opt/bitnami/*/secrets) that is located within the web server document root. In affected versions, this can lead to unauthenticated access to sensitive credentials via HTTP/S. A remote attacker could retrieve these secrets by accessing specific URLs if the application is exposed externally. The issue affects deployments using the default value of usePasswordFiles=true, which mounts secrets as files into the container filesystem.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2025
This vulnerability resides in three Bitnami Helm charts where Kubernetes Secrets are mounted under predictable paths within the web server document root at /opt/bitnami/*/secrets. The flaw stems from improper security configuration where sensitive credential files are exposed through the web server's file system access mechanism. This represents a critical misconfiguration that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and secure by default configurations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 Information Exposure and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 Unsecured Credentials, as it exposes sensitive data through accessible file paths. The issue manifests when deployments utilize the default configuration setting usePasswordFiles=true, which automatically mounts Kubernetes Secrets as files within the container filesystem, creating an attack surface that bypasses normal access controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through HTTP/S requests that target the predictable file paths where secrets are mounted. When applications are exposed externally, attackers can construct specific URLs to access these mounted credential files directly through the web server interface. This creates a direct path for credential theft without requiring authentication or authorization, as the web server serves files from the same directory where secrets are mounted. The vulnerability affects the entire lifecycle of containerized applications deployed through Bitnami Helm charts, particularly those that rely on file-based credential management. The predictable nature of the path (/opt/bitnami/*/secrets) makes this exploit trivial to implement and highly effective across multiple deployments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential system compromise and data breaches. Attackers can retrieve database passwords, API keys, and other sensitive information that could enable lateral movement within the network, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access to backend systems. This exposure creates cascading security risks where compromised credentials can be used to access multiple systems and services that rely on the same authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability undermines the security model of Kubernetes deployments by exposing secrets through the application layer, effectively bypassing the container orchestration security controls that should isolate sensitive data from application access points.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should immediately disable the usePasswordFiles parameter or implement custom mounting paths that do not conflict with web server document roots. The recommended approach involves configuring secret mounting to use non-predictable paths outside of the web server's accessible directories, typically through custom volume mounts that separate application data from credential storage. Security teams should implement network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict external access to web server ports where these vulnerabilities exist. Additionally, regular security scanning and configuration audits should be conducted to ensure that no new deployments introduce similar misconfigurations. The solution aligns with security frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 controls for secure configuration management and access control.