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7.5
HIGH CVSS 3.1
CVE-2025-65998
Apache Syncope: Default AES key used for internal password encryption
Description

Apache Syncope can be configured to store the user password values in the internal database with AES encryption, though this is not the default option. When AES is configured, the default key value, hard-coded in the source code, is always used. This allows a malicious attacker, once obtained access to the internal database content, to reconstruct the original cleartext password values. This is not affecting encrypted plain attributes, whose values are also stored using AES encryption. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.0.15 / 4.0.3, which fix this issue.

INFO

Published Date :

Nov. 24, 2025, 2:15 p.m.

Last Modified :

Nov. 26, 2025, 2:30 p.m.

Remotely Exploit :

Yes !

Source :

[email protected]
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2025-65998 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 Apache syncope
: 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 HIGH 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Solution
Upgrade to a patched version to resolve hard-coded encryption key issues.
  • Upgrade Apache Syncope to version 3.0.15 or 4.0.3.
  • Apply vendor-provided patches for the encryption key vulnerability.
  • Consider using a custom encryption key instead of the default.
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github

CVE-2025-65998 has a 1 public PoC/Exploit available at Github. Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.

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-2025-65998.

URL Resource
https://lists.apache.org/thread/fjh0tb0d1xkbphc5ogdsc348ppz88cts Mailing List Vendor Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/11/24/1 Mailing List Third Party 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-2025-65998 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-2025-65998 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).

Profile Photo
fkie-cad/nvd-json-data-feeds

Community reconstruction of the legacy JSON NVD Data Feeds. This project uses and redistributes data from the NVD API but is neither endorsed nor certified by the NVD.

Shell

Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago
185 stars 25 fork 25 watcher
Born at : May 17, 2023, 8 a.m. This repo has been linked 37 different CVEs too.

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

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2025-65998 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

  • Daily CyberSecurity
Apache StreamPark Flaw Risks Data Decryption & Token Forgery via Hard-Coded Key and AES ECB Mode

The maintainers of Apache StreamPark, a popular framework for developing streaming applications, have issued a critical security advisory after discovering fundamental flaws in how the platform handle ... Read more

Published Date: Dec 15, 2025 (1 day, 6 hours ago)
  • The Cyber Express
Apache Tika Vulnerability Widens Across Multiple Modules, Severity Now 10.0

A security issue disclosed in the Apache Tika document-processing framework has proved broader and more serious than first believed. The project’s maintainers have issued a new advisory revealing that ... Read more

Published Date: Dec 09, 2025 (6 days, 23 hours ago)
  • The Cyber Express
Nationwide OnSolve CodeRED Breach Hits Monroe County, Exposing Resident Data

A nationwide cybersecurity incident involving the OnSolve CodeRED mass notification network has placed Monroe County residents at risk, prompting local officials to warn the public and begin transitio ... Read more

Published Date: Dec 03, 2025 (1 week, 6 days ago)
  • CybersecurityNews
Apache Syncope Vulnerability Allows Attacker to Access Internal Database Content

A significant issue has been disclosed that affects multiple versions of the identity and access management platform. The flaw stems from a hardcoded default encryption key used for password storage, ... Read more

Published Date: Nov 26, 2025 (2 weeks, 6 days ago)
  • The Cyber Express
Apache Syncope Passwords at Risk from Newly Disclosed CVE-2025-65998

A critical security flaw has been uncovered in Apache Syncope, the widely used open-source identity management system, potentially putting organizations at risk of exposing sensitive password informat ... Read more

Published Date: Nov 25, 2025 (2 weeks, 6 days ago)

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-2025-65998 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]

    Nov. 26, 2025

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:apache:syncope:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 2.1.0 up to (including) 2.1.14 *cpe:2.3:a:apache:syncope:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 4.0.0 up to (excluding) 4.0.3 *cpe:2.3:a:apache:syncope:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.0.0 up to (excluding) 3.0.15
    Added Reference Type CVE: http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/11/24/1 Types: Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
    Added Reference Type Apache Software Foundation: https://lists.apache.org/thread/fjh0tb0d1xkbphc5ogdsc348ppz88cts Types: Mailing List, Vendor Advisory
  • CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

    Nov. 24, 2025

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
  • CVE Modified by af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108

    Nov. 24, 2025

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Reference http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/11/24/1
  • New CVE Received by [email protected]

    Nov. 24, 2025

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Description Apache Syncope can be configured to store the user password values in the internal database with AES encryption, though this is not the default option. When AES is configured, the default key value, hard-coded in the source code, is always used. This allows a malicious attacker, once obtained access to the internal database content, to reconstruct the original cleartext password values. This is not affecting encrypted plain attributes, whose values are also stored using AES encryption. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.0.15 / 4.0.3, which fix this issue.
    Added CWE CWE-321
    Added Reference https://lists.apache.org/thread/fjh0tb0d1xkbphc5ogdsc348ppz88cts
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: 7.5
Attack Vector
Attack Complexity
Privileges Required
User Interaction
Scope
Confidentiality Impact
Integrity Impact
Availability Impact