CVE-2025-6000 in Vault
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2025
A privileged Vault operator within the root namespace with write permission to {{sys/audit}} may obtain code execution on the underlying host if a plugin directory is set in Vault’s configuration. Fixed in Vault Community Edition 1.20.1 and Vault Enterprise 1.20.1, 1.19.7, 1.18.12, and 1.16.23.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation and remote code execution flaw in HashiCorp Vault deployments. The issue specifically targets environments where a malicious or compromised Vault operator possesses write permissions to the sys/audit endpoint within the root namespace. The vulnerability leverages the plugin directory configuration mechanism within Vault's architecture to achieve code execution on the underlying host system. This represents a severe breakout from the typical containerized or isolated Vault environment, as the attack vector extends beyond the Vault process boundaries into the host operating system. The flaw exists because Vault's configuration handling does not properly validate or sanitize plugin directory paths when they are set through the audit endpoint, creating an opportunity for arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege separation within Vault's configuration management system. When a privileged operator writes to the sys/audit endpoint, they can manipulate the plugin directory configuration that Vault uses to load external plugins. This configuration is processed with elevated privileges, and if the directory path is manipulated to point to a location containing malicious code, the system will execute that code with the same privileges as the Vault process. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only write permissions to the audit endpoint rather than direct system-level access, making it exploitable by insiders or attackers who have gained limited access to Vault's administrative functions. This flaw aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in OS Command Injection) categories, as it exposes system-level functionality to unauthorized code execution through improper input handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it allows a single compromised or malicious operator with relatively limited permissions to achieve full system compromise. This represents a significant elevation of privilege from typical Vault administrative boundaries and can lead to complete data breaches, system infiltration, and lateral movement within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to the specified fixed releases, including both Community and Enterprise editions across multiple version streams, indicating a widespread exposure across Vault deployments. Organizations utilizing Vault for sensitive data protection and secrets management face severe risk if they have operators with write access to audit endpoints, as this vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive information from the host system. The exploitability is enhanced by the fact that it requires minimal privileges to execute, making it particularly dangerous in environments where privilege separation is not properly enforced.
Mitigation strategies must focus on strict privilege management and configuration hardening. Organizations should immediately restrict write permissions to the sys/audit endpoint to the absolute minimum necessary administrative personnel and implement strict audit logging for all changes to this endpoint. The recommended solution involves upgrading to the patched versions of Vault, specifically Vault Community Edition 1.20.1 and Vault Enterprise versions 1.20.1, 1.19.7, 1.18.12, and 1.16.23, which contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual plugin directory access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions and regular security audits of Vault configurations to ensure that plugin directories are properly secured and that no unauthorized modifications can occur. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) as attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges.