Authentication Bypass in ruby-saml by SAML Toolkits
CVE-2025-25291

9.3CRITICAL

Key Information:

Vendor: Saml-toolkits
Status: Ruby-saml
Vendor: CVE Published:; 12 March 2025

🔔 Create Saml-toolkits Vulnerability Alert

Badges

📈 Trended📈 Score: 1,340📰 News Worthy

What is CVE-2025-25291?

CVE-2025-25291 is a vulnerability identified in the ruby-saml library, which is utilized for implementing SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) single sign-on (SSO) functionalities in Ruby-based applications. This vulnerability allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms due to discrepancies in how different XML parsers interpret input data. If exploited, this could potentially allow unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive resources, undermining the security of organizations relying on ruby-saml for their authentication processes.

Technical Details

The vulnerability arises from a parser differential between the ReXML and Nokogiri libraries used within the ruby-saml framework. These parsers generate different document structures from the same XML input, which can lead to security lapses such as Signature Wrapping attacks. This weakens the authentication protocols, making it possible for attackers to manipulate SAML messages to bypass authentication controls. Versions prior to 1.12.4 and 1.18.0 are affected and have been addressed in subsequent releases.

Potential Impact of CVE-2025-25291

Unauthorized Access: The primary risk associated with this vulnerability is the potential for unauthorized users to bypass authentication. This can lead to unauthorized access to systems and sensitive data, impacting organizational security significantly.
Data Breaches: Exploiting this authentication bypass could facilitate data breaches, where attackers gain access to confidential information. This risk is particularly acute for organizations that handle sensitive customer data.
Reputational Damage: The fallout from a successful exploitation could result in significant reputational harm to affected organizations. Trust is vital in maintaining customer relationships, and breaches arising from such vulnerabilities can lead to long-lasting impacts on brand integrity.