CVE-2025-6013: Github.com/hashicorp/vault Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-7rx2-769v-hrwf
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CVSS 6.5
CWE-156
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-6013 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-156: Improper Neutralization of Whitespace) affecting Github.com/hashicorp/vault libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves hashicorp vault ldap auth method may not have correctly enforced mfa. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.20.2.

CVE-2025-6013 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-6013
GHSA Identifier GHSA-7rx2-769v-hrwf
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-156: Improper Neutralization of Whitespace
Affected Product Github.com/hashicorp/vault
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2025-6013

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: 1.20.2 
Upgrade github.com/hashicorp/vault to 1.20.2
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-2025-6013, 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 1.20.2), 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-156: Improper Neutralization of Whitespace, where the product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as whitespace when they are sent to a downstream component. 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

Vault and Vault Enterprise’s (“Vault”) ldap auth method may not have correctly enforced MFA if username_as_alias was set to true and a user had multiple CNs that are equal but with leading or trailing spaces. Fixed in Vault Community Edition 1.20.2 and Vault Enterprise 1.20.2, 1.19.8, 1.18.13, and 1.16.24.

CVE-2025-6013 Affected Github.com/hashicorp/vault Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.20.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/hashicorp/vault
golang/github.com/hashicorp/vault
Go
< 1.20.2
1.20.2

References

NVD — CVE-2025-6013 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-6013
discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-20-vau... WEB
https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-20-vault-ldap-mfa-enforcement-bypass-when-using-username-as-alias/76092
Github.com/hashicorp/vault Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/hashicorp/vault

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-6013?
CVE-2025-6013 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/hashicorp/vault involving HashiCorp Vault ldap auth method may not have correctly enforced MFA under CWE-156: Improper Neutralization of Whitespace.
Which Github.com/hashicorp/vault versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.20.2 across affected packages: github.com/hashicorp/vault.
What version fixes CVE-2025-6013?
Upgrading to 1.20.2 (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 1.20.2. Upgrade your dependency to 1.20.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-6013?
CVE-2025-6013 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-6013?
CVE-2025-6013 is classified under CWE-156: Improper Neutralization of Whitespace (The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as whitespace when they are sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2025-6013?
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-7rx2-769v-hrwf",
  "modified" : "2025-08-06T18:14:06Z",
  "published" : "2025-08-06T12:31:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-6013" ],
  "summary" : "HashiCorp Vault ldap auth method may not have correctly enforced MFA",
  "details" : "Vault and Vault Enterprise’s (“Vault”) ldap auth method may not have correctly enforced MFA if username_as_alias was set to true and a user had multiple CNs that are equal but with leading or trailing spaces. Fixed in Vault Community Edition 1.20.2 and Vault Enterprise 1.20.2, 1.19.8, 1.18.13, and 1.16.24.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/hashicorp/vault"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.20.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-6013"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-20-vault-ldap-mfa-enforcement-bypass-when-using-username-as-alias/76092"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hashicorp/vault"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-156" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-08-06T18:14:06Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-08-06T10:15:35Z"
  }
}