CVE-2025-31991 in DevOps Velocity
Summary
by MITRE • 04/13/2026
Rate Limiting for attempting a user login is not being properly enforced, making HCL DevOps Velocity susceptible to brute-force attacks past the unsuccessful login attempt limit. This vulnerability is fixed in 5.1.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-31991 represents a critical security weakness in HCL DevOps Velocity platforms where the system fails to properly enforce rate limiting mechanisms during user authentication attempts. This flaw creates an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to conduct brute-force attacks against user credentials without encountering effective barriers that would typically prevent excessive login attempts. The absence of proper rate limiting enables attackers to systematically test numerous username and password combinations until they successfully gain access to valid accounts. This vulnerability directly impacts the authentication security posture of the platform and represents a failure in implementing fundamental access control measures that should prevent automated credential testing attacks.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate enforcement of login attempt restrictions within the authentication subsystem of HCL DevOps Velocity. When users attempt to log in with invalid credentials, the system should enforce strict rate limiting to prevent rapid successive authentication attempts. However, in this case, the rate limiting mechanisms are either completely absent or improperly configured, allowing unlimited or excessively permissive login attempts. This weakness aligns with CWE-307, which specifically addresses improper restriction of repeated authentication attempts, and represents a classic example of insufficient account lockout or rate limiting controls. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the platform's defensive programming practices and authentication flow management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with a systematic approach to compromise user accounts within the DevOps environment. Organizations utilizing HCL DevOps Velocity become vulnerable to automated attack tools that can rapidly cycle through common password lists or employ more sophisticated credential stuffing techniques. The ability to bypass normal login attempt restrictions means that attackers can potentially compromise multiple accounts without triggering the system's built-in protective measures. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where DevOps platforms contain sensitive configuration data, deployment credentials, and access controls to critical infrastructure components, making it a prime target for attackers seeking unauthorized access to development and production systems.
The remediation for CVE-2025-31991 requires implementing robust rate limiting controls that enforce strict restrictions on login attempts based on both username and IP address combinations. Organizations should configure the system to enforce account lockout mechanisms after a predetermined number of failed authentication attempts, typically ranging from three to five attempts within a specified time window. The fix should also implement adaptive rate limiting that can detect and respond to suspicious login patterns, including attempts from multiple geographic locations or unusual time-based access patterns. Security controls should align with industry best practices outlined in the OWASP Authentication Cheat Sheet and should incorporate principles from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation. Organizations must ensure that the implemented rate limiting mechanisms are properly tested and monitored to prevent legitimate users from being inadvertently locked out while maintaining effective protection against automated attacks. The vulnerability was addressed in version 5.1.7 of HCL DevOps Velocity, which includes enhanced authentication controls and proper enforcement of login attempt restrictions.