How severe is CVE-2025-54997?

CVE-2025-54997 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.1, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2025-54997 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (27th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-54997?

CVE-2025-54997 affects Openbao. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2025-54997?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

Does CVE-2025-54997 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2025-54997 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-24037.

When was CVE-2025-54997 published?

CVE-2025-54997 was published on 2025-08-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2025-54997

CVE-2025-54997 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Openbao with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-94.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.1)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (27th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-24037
Weakness: CWE-94
Affected product: Openbao
Published: 2025-08-09
Last modified: 2026-06-17

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-54997?: 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.
How severe is CVE-2025-54997?: CVE-2025-54997 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.1, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2025-54997 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (27th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2025-54997?: CVE-2025-54997 affects Openbao. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2025-54997?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2025-54997 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2025-54997 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-24037.
When was CVE-2025-54997 published?: CVE-2025-54997 was published on 2025-08-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:openbao:openbao:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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