CVE-2025-55001: 
vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-55001 is a vulnerability in OpenBao's LDAP authentication method that was discovered and disclosed on August 8, 2025. The vulnerability affects OpenBao versions prior to 2.3.2, where the LDAP authentication method could bypass Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enforcement when using the usernameasalias parameter. This security flaw has been assigned a CVSS score of 6.5 (Moderate) (GitHub Advisory).

The vulnerability exists in OpenBao's LDAP authentication method when the usernameasalias=true parameter is set. In this configuration, the system uses the caller-supplied username verbatim without proper normalization, which can lead to inconsistencies in entity alias assignment. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5, with the vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N, indicating network vector attack with low complexity but requiring high privileges (GitHub Advisory).

When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to bypass alias-specific MFA requirements in OpenBao deployments that use the LDAP authentication method with usernameasalias=true. This could lead to unauthorized access to protected resources by circumventing the intended MFA security controls (GitHub Advisory).

The primary mitigation is to upgrade to OpenBao version 2.3.2 or later, which contains the fix for this vulnerability. As a workaround, organizations can remove all usage of the usernameasalias=true parameter in their LDAP authentication configuration and update any entity aliases accordingly (GitHub Advisory).