CVE-2025-54997 CRITICAL

CVE-2025-54997: OpenBao: Privileged Operator May Execute Code on the Underlying Host

Vendor Openbao
Product openbao
Weakness CWE-94 · Code injection
Published August 9, 2025
Last update August 11, 2025

CVSS base score

9.1/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required High
User interaction None
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

What the vulnerability does

01Description

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.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

August 9, 2025 CVE published
August 11, 2025 Record updated