Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2022-23525

Helm vulnerable to Denial of service via NULL Pointer Dereference

5.3 MediumFix available

Helm is a tool for managing Charts, pre-configured Kubernetes resources. Versions prior to 3.10.3 are subject to NULL Pointer Dereference in the _repo_package. The repo package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The repo package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into structures Go can work with. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation. Applications that use the repo package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from. The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client. This issue has been patched in 3.10.3. SDK users can validate index files that are correctly formatted before passing them to the repo functions.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
Low

Exploit likelihood

0.89%Unchanged since Dec 15, 2022
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 5.3

Helm vulnerable to Denial of service via NULL Pointer Dereference

Helm is a tool for managing Charts, pre-configured Kubernetes resources. Versions prior to 3.10.3 are subject to NULL Pointer Dereference in the _repo_package. The repo package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The repo package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into structures Go can work with. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation. Applications that use the repo package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from. The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client. This issue has been patched in 3.10.3. SDK users can validate index files that are correctly formatted before passing them to the repo functions.

Record
CVE-2022-23525
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-7511 5.3

Helm is a tool for managing Charts, pre-configured Kubernetes resources. Versions prior to 3.10.3 are subject to NULL Pointer Dereference in the _repo_package. The repo package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The repo package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into structures Go can work with. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation. Applications that use the repo package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from. The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client. This issue has been patched in 3.10.3. SDK users can validate index files that are correctly formatted before passing them to the repo functions.

Record
EUVD-2022-7511
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-53c4-hhmh-vw5q 5.3

Helm vulnerable to denial of service through through repository index file

Fuzz testing, by Ada Logics and sponsored by the CNCF, identified input to functions in the _repo_ package that can cause a segmentation violation. Applications that use functions from the _repo_ package in the Helm SDK can have a Denial of Service attack when they use this package and it panics.

Impact

The _repo_ package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The _repo_ package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into structures Go can work with. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation.

Applications that use the _repo_ package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from.

The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client.

Patches

This issue has been resolved in 3.10.3.

Workarounds

SDK users can validate index files that are correctly formatted before passing them to the _repo_ functions.

For more information

Helm's security policy is spelled out in detail in our SECURITY document.

Credits

Disclosed by Ada Logics in a fuzzing audit sponsored by CNCF.

Record
GHSA-53c4-hhmh-vw5q
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 5.3

Helm is a tool for managing Charts, pre-configured Kubernetes resources. Versions prior to 3.10.3 are subject to NULL Pointer Dereference in the _repo_package. The repo package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The repo package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into structures Go can work with. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation. Applications that use the repo package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from. The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client. This issue has been patched in 3.10.3. SDK users can validate index files that are correctly formatted before passing them to the repo functions.

Record
CVE-2022-23525
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVAZL-11655 7.5

CVE-2022-23525 affecting package helm for versions less than 3.9.4-4

Helm is a tool for managing Charts, pre-configured Kubernetes resources. Versions prior to 3.10.3 are subject to NULL Pointer Dereference in the _repo_package. The repo package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The repo package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into structures Go can work with. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation. Applications that use the repo package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from. The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client. This issue has been patched in 3.10.3. SDK users can validate index files that are correctly formatted before passing them to the repo functions.

Record
AZL-11655
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.3

Helm vulnerable to Denial of service via NULL Pointer Dereference

Helm is a tool for managing Charts, pre-configured Kubernetes resources. Versions prior to 3.10.3 are subject to NULL Pointer Dereference in the _repo_package. The repo package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The repo package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into structures Go can work with. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation. Applications that use the repo package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from. The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client. This issue has been patched in 3.10.3. SDK users can validate index files that are correctly formatted before passing them to the repo functions.

Record
CVE-2022-23525
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 7 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-53c4-hhmh-vw5q 5.3

Helm vulnerable to denial of service through through repository index file

Fuzz testing, by Ada Logics and sponsored by the CNCF, identified input to functions in the _repo_ package that can cause a segmentation violation. Applications that use functions from the _repo_ package in the Helm SDK can have a Denial of Service attack when they use this package and it panics.

Impact

The _repo_ package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The _repo_ package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into structures Go can work with. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation.

Applications that use the _repo_ package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from.

The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client.

Patches

This issue has been resolved in 3.10.3.

Workarounds

SDK users can validate index files that are correctly formatted before passing them to the _repo_ functions.

For more information

Helm's security policy is spelled out in detail in our SECURITY document.

Credits

Disclosed by Ada Logics in a fuzzing audit sponsored by CNCF.

Record
GHSA-53c4-hhmh-vw5q
CVSS 3.1
5.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVBIT-helm-2022-23525 No score

Helm vulnerable to Denial of service via NULL Pointer Dereference

Helm is a tool for managing Charts, pre-configured Kubernetes resources. Versions prior to 3.10.3 are subject to NULL Pointer Dereference in the _repo_package. The repo package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The repo package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into structures Go can work with. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation. Applications that use the repo package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from. The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client. This issue has been patched in 3.10.3. SDK users can validate index files that are correctly formatted before passing them to the repo functions.

Record
BIT-helm-2022-23525
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGO-2022-1165 No score

Denial of service via repository index file in helm.sh/helm/v3

Applications that use the repo package in the Helm SDK to parse an index file can suffer a Denial of Service when that input causes a panic that cannot be recovered from.

The repo package contains a handler that processes the index file of a repository. For example, the Helm client adds references to chart repositories where charts are managed. The repo package parses the index file of the repository and loads it into memory. Some index files can cause array data structures to be created causing a memory violation.

The Helm Client will panic with an index file that causes a memory violation panic. Helm is not a long running service so the panic will not affect future uses of the Helm client.

Record
GO-2022-1165
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:12572-1 No score

helm-3.10.3-2.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the helm-3.10.3-2.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:12572-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:12603-1 No score

cmctl-1.10.2-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the cmctl-1.10.2-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:12603-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2025:15779-1 No score

helm3-3.19.2-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the helm3-3.19.2-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2025:15779-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2022:4606-1 No score

Security update for helm

This update for helm fixes the following issues:

Update to version 3.10.3:

  • CVE-2022-23524: Fixed a denial of service in the string value parsing (bsc#1206467).
  • CVE-2022-23525: Fixed a denial of service with the repository index file (bsc#1206469).
  • CVE-2022-23526: Fixed a denial of service in the schema file handling (bsc#1206471).
Record
SUSE-SU-2022:4606-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
helm.sh/helm/v3
Go
before 3.10.3
3.10.3
helm
Azure Linux:2
before 3.9.4-4
3.9.4-4
helm
Bitnami
3.0.0 up to 3.10.3
3.10.3
helm
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Containers 15 SP4
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 3.10.3-150000.1.13.1
3.10.3-150000.1.13.1
helm
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 SP4
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 3.10.3-150000.1.13.1
3.10.3-150000.1.13.1
helm
openSUSE:Leap 15.3
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 3.10.3-150000.1.13.1
3.10.3-150000.1.13.1
helm
openSUSE:Leap 15.4
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 3.10.3-150000.1.13.1
3.10.3-150000.1.13.1
helm
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 3.10.3-2.1
3.10.3-2.1
cmctl
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
before 1.10.2-1.1
1.10.2-1.1
helm3
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
From an advisory covering 20 CVEs
before 3.19.2-1.1
3.19.2-1.1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2022-23525 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) in Helm, published December 14, 2022. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.89%, the 59th percentile. Fixed in helm.sh/helm/v3 3.10.3.

References

Show 26 moreShow less
MoveEnter Open