CVE-2022-23525
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.
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
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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
helm.sh/helm/v3Go |
before 3.10.3 | 3.10.3 |
helmAzure Linux:2 |
before 3.9.4-4 | 3.9.4-4 |
helmBitnami |
3.0.0 up to 3.10.3 | 3.10.3 |
helmSUSE: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 |
helmSUSE: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 |
helmopenSUSE:Leap 15.3 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 3.10.3-150000.1.13.1 | 3.10.3-150000.1.13.1 |
helmopenSUSE:Leap 15.4 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 3.10.3-150000.1.13.1 | 3.10.3-150000.1.13.1 |
helmopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 3 CVEs |
before 3.10.3-2.1 | 3.10.3-2.1 |
cmctlopenSUSE:Tumbleweed |
before 1.10.2-1.1 | 1.10.2-1.1 |
helm3openSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 20 CVEs |
before 3.19.2-1.1 | 3.19.2-1.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| first indexed | CVE 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
github.com/helm/helm/security/advisories/GHSA-53c4-hhmh-vw5q
github.com/helm/helm/commit/638ebffbc2e445156f3978f02fd83d9af1e56f5b
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23525
pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2022-1165
github.com/advisories/GHSA-53c4-hhmh-vw5q
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2022/23xxx/CVE-2022-23525.json
Show 26 moreShow less
github.com/helm/helm
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2022/suse-su-20224606-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1181419
bugzilla.suse.com/1206467
bugzilla.suse.com/1206469
bugzilla.suse.com/1206471
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-21272
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2022-1996
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2022-23524
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2022-23525
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2022-23526
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-16873
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-16874
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-16875
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2022-36055
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-25165
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-25173
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-25620
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-26147
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-45337
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-45338
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-22870
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-22872
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-47911
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-53547
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-58190