CVE-2025-23266: CVE-2025-23266: NVIDIA Container Toolkit for all platforms contains a vulnerability in some hooks used to …
Unknown · · NVD published 2025-07-18 · posted 2025-07-19 · last modified 2026-06-17
What it is
NVIDIA Container Toolkit for all platforms contains a vulnerability in some hooks used to initialize the container, where an attacker could execute arbitrary code with elevated permissions. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to escalation of privileges, data tampering, information disclosure, and denial of service.
| Weakness | CWE-426 |
|---|---|
| CVSS vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H (source: [email protected]) |
| ATT&CK tactics | Execution → Stealth → Impact |
Exploitation evidence
First exploit evidence seen: 2025-07-19 (earliest date across the sources below).
Exploited in the wild
No source on this site lists in-the-wild exploitation yet (CISA KEV, VulnCheck KEV).
Public exploit code
GitHub proof-of-concept repositories
5 public repositories from 5 accounts, first seen 2025-07-19. Most starred: jpts/cve-2025-23266-poc (15 stars), view repository.
Verify before running: public PoCs can be malicious. Read the code and only run it in an isolated lab. A PoC means exploit code is public, not that this CVE is exploited in the wild.
Sources: nomi-sec/PoC-in-GitHub.
How to fix it
Fixed versions
NVD does not list a fixed version for this CVE. Use the vendor advisory below.
Derived from the NVD CPE configuration (versionEndExcluding / versionEndIncluding). Always confirm with the vendor advisory.
Vendor advisories and patches
No vendor-tagged reference yet; see the full reference list.
MITRE ATT&CK mitigations for this chain
- M1038 Execution Prevention (for T1574.008) : Adversaries will likely need to place new binaries in locations to be executed through this weakness. Identify and block potentially malicious software executed path interception by using application control tools, like Windows Defender Application Control, AppLocker, or Software Restriction Policies where appropriate.
- M1022 Restrict File and Directory Permissions (for T1574.008) : Ensure that proper permissions and directory access control are set to deny users the ability to write files to the top-level directory <code>C:</code> and system directories, such as <code>C:\Windows\</code>, to reduce places where malicious files could be placed for execution. Require that all executables be placed i
- M1047 Audit (for T1574.008) : Find and eliminate path interception weaknesses in program configuration files, scripts, the PATH environment variable, services, and in shortcuts by surrounding PATH variables with quotation marks when functions allow for them. Be aware of the search order Windows uses for executing or loading binaries and use fully q
- M1050 Exploit Protection (for T1203) : Security applications that look for behavior used during exploitation such as Windows Defender Exploit Guard (WDEG) and the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) can be used to mitigate some exploitation behavior. Control flow integrity checking is another way to potentially identify and stop a software exploi
- M1051 Update Software (for T1203) : Perform regular software updates to mitigate exploitation risk. Keeping software up-to-date with the latest security patches helps prevent adversaries from exploiting known vulnerabilities in client software, reducing the risk of successful attacks.
- M1048 Application Isolation and Sandboxing (for T1203) : Browser sandboxes can be used to mitigate some of the impact of exploitation, but sandbox escapes may still exist. Other types of virtualization and application microsegmentation may also mitigate the impact of client-side exploitation. Risks of additional exploits and weaknesses in those systems may still exist.
- M1037 Filter Network Traffic (for T1499) : Leverage services provided by Content Delivery Networks (CDN) or providers specializing in DoS mitigations to filter traffic upstream from services. Filter boundary traffic by blocking source addresses sourcing the attack, blocking ports that are being targeted, or blocking protocols being used for transport. To defend
Detection Generic guidance
- Execution: Watch for the service process spawning shells or script interpreters (cmd.exe, powershell, sh, bash, python) via EDR process-tree rules.
- Impact: Monitor service availability, unexpected encryption activity and mass file changes.
Response checklist Generic guidance
- Inventory: find every instance of the affected product and version (include internet-facing and forgotten ones).
- Patch or mitigate per the vendor advisory; if you cannot patch, remove internet exposure or apply the vendor workaround.
- Assume compromise if the system was exposed before patching: hunt for the indicators in the advisory and review logs back to the disclosure date.
- Rotate credentials and secrets stored on or used by the affected system if compromise cannot be ruled out.
Sources
- NVD: CVE-2025-23266
- CVE.org record
- FIRST EPSS (2026-10-24)
- https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5659
- https://kidbomb.github.io/posts/nvidia-container-escape-cve-2025-23266-part-2/
- https://kidbomb.github.io/posts/nvidia-container-escape-cve-2025-23266/
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44818412
- https://www.wiz.io/blog/nvidia-ai-vulnerability-cve-2025-23266-nvidiascape