How severe is CVE-2025-5999?

CVE-2025-5999 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2, rated high 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-2025-5999 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-5999?

CVE-2025-5999 primarily affects Hashicorp Vault. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2025-5999?

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

Does CVE-2025-5999 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2025-5999 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-23388.

When was CVE-2025-5999 published?

CVE-2025-5999 was published on 2025-08-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2025-5999

CVE-2025-5999 is a high-severity vulnerability in Hashicorp Vault with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2. 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-266.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.2)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (38th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-23388
Weakness: CWE-266
Affected product: Hashicorp Vault
Published: 2025-08-01
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A privileged Vault operator with write permissions to the root namespace’s identity endpoint could escalate their own or another user’s token privileges to Vault’s root policy. Fixed in Vault Community Edition 1.20.0 and Vault Enterprise 1.20.0, 1.19.6, 1.18.11 and 1.16.22.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-5999?: A privileged Vault operator with write permissions to the root namespace’s identity endpoint could escalate their own or another user’s token privileges to Vault’s root policy. Fixed in Vault Community Edition 1.20.0 and Vault Enterprise 1.20.0, 1.19.6, 1.18.11 and 1.16.22.
How severe is CVE-2025-5999?: CVE-2025-5999 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2, rated high 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-2025-5999 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2025-5999?: CVE-2025-5999 primarily affects Hashicorp Vault. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2025-5999?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2025-5999 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2025-5999 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-23388.
When was CVE-2025-5999 published?: CVE-2025-5999 was published on 2025-08-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-13-vault-root-namespace-operator-may-elevate-token-privileges/76032

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:a:hashicorp:vault:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:hashicorp:vault:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*

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