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9.1
CRITICAL CVSS 3.1
CVE-2025-54997
OpenBao Audit Subsystem Privilege Escalation
Description

OpenBao exists to provide a software solution to manage, store, and distribute sensitive data including secrets, certificates, and keys. In versions 2.3.1 and below, some OpenBao deployments intentionally limit privileged API operators from executing system code or making network connections. However, these operators can bypass both restrictions through the audit subsystem by manipulating log prefixes. This allows unauthorized code execution and network access that violates the intended security model. This issue is fixed in version 2.3.2. To workaround, users can block access to sys/audit/* endpoints using explicit deny policies, but root operators cannot be restricted this way.

INFO

Published Date :

Aug. 9, 2025, 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified :

Aug. 13, 2025, 6:23 p.m.

Remotely Exploit :

Yes !

Source :

[email protected]
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2025-54997 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Openbao openbao
: Total Affected Vendor : 1 | Products : 1
CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardized framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and displays CVSS scores from various sources for each CVE.
Score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Source
CVSS 3.1 CRITICAL [email protected]
Solution
Update OpenBao to version 2.3.2 or restrict audit log access.
  • Update OpenBao to version 2.3.2.
  • Block access to sys/audit/* endpoints if upgrading is not possible.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2025-54997.

URL Resource
https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-14-privileged-vault-operator-may-execute-code-on-the-underlying-host/76033 Not Applicable
https://github.com/openbao/openbao/pull/1634 Issue Tracking
https://github.com/openbao/openbao/releases/tag/v2.3.2 Release Notes
https://github.com/openbao/openbao/security/advisories/GHSA-xp75-r577-cvhp Vendor Advisory
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-54997 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-54997 weaknesses.

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2025-54997 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

Results are limited to the first 20 news articles due to potential performance issues.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2025-54997 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Aug. 13, 2025

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:openbao:openbao:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (excluding) 2.3.2
    Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-14-privileged-vault-operator-may-execute-code-on-the-underlying-host/76033 Types: Not Applicable
    Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/openbao/openbao/pull/1634 Types: Issue Tracking
    Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/openbao/openbao/releases/tag/v2.3.2 Types: Release Notes
    Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/openbao/openbao/security/advisories/GHSA-xp75-r577-cvhp Types: Vendor Advisory
  • New CVE Received by [email protected]

    Aug. 09, 2025

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Description OpenBao exists to provide a software solution to manage, store, and distribute sensitive data including secrets, certificates, and keys. In versions 2.3.1 and below, some OpenBao deployments intentionally limit privileged API operators from executing system code or making network connections. However, these operators can bypass both restrictions through the audit subsystem by manipulating log prefixes. This allows unauthorized code execution and network access that violates the intended security model. This issue is fixed in version 2.3.2. To workaround, users can block access to sys/audit/* endpoints using explicit deny policies, but root operators cannot be restricted this way.
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
    Added CWE CWE-94
    Added Reference https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-14-privileged-vault-operator-may-execute-code-on-the-underlying-host/76033
    Added Reference https://github.com/openbao/openbao/pull/1634
    Added Reference https://github.com/openbao/openbao/releases/tag/v2.3.2
    Added Reference https://github.com/openbao/openbao/security/advisories/GHSA-xp75-r577-cvhp
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Scoring Details
Base CVSS Score: 9.1
Attack Vector
Attack Complexity
Privileges Required
User Interaction
Scope
Confidentiality Impact
Integrity Impact
Availability Impact