better-auth Better Auth up to 1.3.25 /api/auth/api-key/create improper authorization

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in better-auth Better Auth up to 1.3.25. This impacts an unknown function of the file /api/auth/api-key/create. Executing a manipulation can lead to improper authorization. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2025-61928. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in better-auth Better Auth up to 1.3.25 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown part of the file /api/auth/api-key/create. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a improper authorization vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-285. The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Better Auth is an authentication and authorization library for TypeScript. In versions prior to 1.3.26, unauthenticated attackers can create or modify API keys for any user by passing that user's id in the request body to the `api/auth/api-key/create` route. `session?.user ?? (authRequired ? null : { id: ctx.body.userId })`. When no session exists but `userId` is present in the request body, `authRequired` becomes false and the user object is set to the attacker-controlled ID. Server-only field validation only executes when `authRequired` is true (lines 280-295), allowing attackers to set privileged fields. No additional authentication occurs before the database operation, so the malicious payload is accepted. The same pattern exists in the update endpoint. This is a critical authentication bypass enabling full an unauthenticated attacker can generate an API key for any user and immediately gain complete authenticated access. This allows the attacker to perform any action as the victim user using the api key, potentially compromise the user data and the application depending on the victim's privileges. Version 1.3.26 contains a patch for the issue.

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-61928 since 10/04/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1548.002.

Upgrading to version 1.3.26 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 556085067609c508f8c546ceef9003ee8c607d39 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Vendor

• better-auth

Name

• Better Auth

Version

• 1.3.0
• 1.3.1
• 1.3.2
• 1.3.3
• 1.3.4
• 1.3.5
• 1.3.6
• 1.3.7
• 1.3.8
• 1.3.9
• 1.3.10
• 1.3.11
• 1.3.12
• 1.3.13
• 1.3.14
• 1.3.15
• 1.3.16
• 1.3.17
• 1.3.18
• 1.3.19
• 1.3.20
• 1.3.21
• 1.3.22
• 1.3.23
• 1.3.24
• 1.3.25

License

• open-source

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