CVE-2025-54997: openbao Code Injection

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2025-54997 is a critical (CVSS 9.1) Code Injection vulnerability in openbao. EPSS estimates a 0.40% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 32.6% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 09-08-2025
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 11-08-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

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.

• CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.