CVE-2013-4253Network attack vector

Unauthenticated root access via shared SSH key

Published Oct 19, 2022 · Updated May 9, 2025

Improper access control in Red Hat OpenShift 1 allows remote attackers to obtain root shell access via a bundled SSH key. The unsupported OpenShift Extras deployment script appends a fixed public key to /root/.ssh/authorized_keys, trusting anyone with the matching private key. Exposure requires use of the optional script and network reachability to SSH; successful authentication grants root-level command execution.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Red Hat OpenShift 1 allows remote attackers to obtain root shell access via a bundled SSH key. The unsupported OpenShift Extras deployment script appends a fixed public key to /root/.ssh/authorized_keys, trusting anyone with the matching private key. Exposure requires use of the optional script and network reachability to SSH; successful authentication grants root-level command execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2013-4253
Published
Oct 19, 2022
Updated
May 9, 2025
Vendor
Red Hat
Product
OpenShift
Classifications
CWE-377, CWE-668, T1078.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 9, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Red Hat Openshift 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Red Hat · OpenShiftversion=Red Hat Openshift 1

Published CVSS scores

7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-377Insecure Temporary File
CWE-668Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere
T1078.003Valid Accounts: Local Accounts

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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