Unauthorized Code Execution in OpenBao by Privileged Operators
CVE-2025-54997

9.1CRITICAL

Key Information:

Vendor

Openbao

Status
Openbao
Vendor
CVE Published:
9 August 2025

What is CVE-2025-54997?

The OpenBao software, designed for managing sensitive data including secrets, certificates, and keys, has a vulnerability affecting versions 2.3.1 and below. Privileged API operators, who should be restricted from executing system code or establishing network connections, can circumvent these limitations via the audit subsystem by manipulating log prefixes. This exploit leads to unauthorized code execution and network access, undermining the platform's intended security measures. Users are advised to upgrade to version 2.3.2 or implement explicit deny policies to safeguard the sys/audit/* endpoints, although note that root operators may remain unrestricted.

Affected Version(s)

openbao < 2.3.2

References

https://github.com/openbao/openbao/security/advisories/GH...
x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/openbao/openbao/pull/1634
x_refsource_MISC
https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-14-privileged-...
x_refsource_MISC

CVSS V3.1

Score:
9.1
Severity:
CRITICAL
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
Low
Privileges Required:
High
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Changed

Timeline

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

.
CVE-2025-54997 : Unauthorized Code Execution in OpenBao by Privileged Operators