CVE-2025-6011: Github.com/hashicorp/vault Hashicorp Vault Has An Observable Vulnerability

LOW
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-mwgr-84fv-3jh9
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CVSS 3.7
CWE-203
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-6011 is a LOW (CVSS 3.7) hashicorp vault has an observable vulnerability (CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy) affecting Github.com/hashicorp/vault libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves hashicorp vault has an observable discrepancy on existing and non-existing users. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.20.1.

CVE-2025-6011 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-6011
GHSA Identifier GHSA-mwgr-84fv-3jh9
Severity LOW
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 3.7
CWE Classification CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy
Affected Product Github.com/hashicorp/vault
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 3.7

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2025-6011

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/hashicorp/vault dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/hashicorp/vault fixed: 1.20.1 
Upgrade github.com/hashicorp/vault to 1.20.1
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for github.com/hashicorp/vault

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2025-6011, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/hashicorp/vault:

inspect dependencies for github.com/hashicorp/vault

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/hashicorp/vault in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.20.1), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy, where the product behaves differently or sends different responses under different circumstances in a way that is observable to an unauthorized actor. In Github.com/hashicorp/vault, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

A timing side channel in Vault and Vault Enterprise’s (“Vault”) userpass auth method allowed an attacker to distinguish between existing and non-existing users, and potentially enumerate valid usernames for Vault’s Userpass auth method. Fixed in Vault Community Edition 1.20.1 and Vault Enterprise 1.20.1, 1.19.7, 1.18.12, and 1.16.23.

CVE-2025-6011 Affected Github.com/hashicorp/vault Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.20.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/hashicorp/vault
golang/github.com/hashicorp/vault
Go
< 1.20.1
1.20.1

References

NVD — CVE-2025-6011 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-6011
discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-15-tim... WEB
https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-15-timing-side-channel-in-vault-s-userpass-auth-method/76034
Github.com/hashicorp/vault Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/hashicorp/vault

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-6011?
CVE-2025-6011 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/hashicorp/vault involving Hashicorp Vault has an Observable Discrepancy on Existing and Non-Existing Users under CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy.
Which Github.com/hashicorp/vault versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.20.1 across affected packages: github.com/hashicorp/vault.
What version fixes CVE-2025-6011?
Upgrading to 1.20.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/hashicorp/vault affected?
Yes, github.com/hashicorp/vault is affected in releases prior to 1.20.1. Upgrade your dependency to 1.20.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-6011?
CVE-2025-6011 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 3.7 (LOW) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-6011?
CVE-2025-6011 is classified under CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy (The product behaves differently or sends different responses under different circumstances in a way that is observable to an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2025-6011?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/hashicorp/vault'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-mwgr-84fv-3jh9",
  "modified" : "2025-08-01T21:08:42Z",
  "published" : "2025-08-01T18:31:19Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-6011" ],
  "summary" : "Hashicorp Vault has an Observable Discrepancy on Existing and Non-Existing Users",
  "details" : "A timing side channel in Vault and Vault Enterprise’s (“Vault”) userpass auth method allowed an attacker to distinguish between existing and non-existing users, and potentially enumerate valid usernames for Vault’s Userpass auth method. Fixed in Vault Community Edition 1.20.1 and Vault Enterprise 1.20.1, 1.19.7, 1.18.12, and 1.16.23.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/hashicorp/vault"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.20.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-6011"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-15-timing-side-channel-in-vault-s-userpass-auth-method/76034"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hashicorp/vault"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-203" ],
    "severity" : "LOW",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-08-01T21:08:42Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-08-01T18:15:56Z"
  }
}