---
id: CVE-2025-55001
aliases:
  - GHSA-2q8q-8fgw-9p6p
  - BIT-openbao-2025-55001
  - GO-2025-3859
title: OpenBao LDAP MFA Enforcement Bypass When Using Username As Alias
summary: OpenBao LDAP MFA Enforcement Bypass When Using Username As Alias
severity: medium
cvss: 6.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'
vendor: openbao
product: github.com/openbao/openbao
ecosystem: go
affected:
  - 'github.com/openbao/openbao >= 0.1.0, < 2.3.2'
  - github.com/openbao/openbao < 0.0.0-20250807212521-c52795c1ef74
patched:
  - github.com/openbao/openbao 2.3.2
  - github.com/openbao/openbao 0.0.0-20250807212521-c52795c1ef74
published: '2025-08-08'
updated: '2026-07-27'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-2q8q-8fgw-9p6p'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/openbao/openbao/security/advisories/GHSA-2q8q-8fgw-9p6p'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-55001'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-6013'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/openbao/openbao/commit/c52795c1ef746c7f2c510f9225aa8ccbbd44f9fc
  - url: >-
      https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-20-vault-ldap-mfa-enforcement-bypass-when-using-username-as-alias/76092
  - url: 'https://github.com/openbao/openbao'
tags:
  - osv
  - go
epss: 0.00221
epssPercentile: 0.11322
ingestedAt: '2026-07-27T19:08:54.090Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact

OpenBao allows assignment of policies and MFA attribution based upon entity aliases, chosen by the underlying auth method. When using the `username_as_alias=true` parameter in the LDAP auth method, the caller-supplied username is used verbatim without normalization, allowing an attacker to bypass alias-specific MFA requirements.

### Patches

OpenBao v2.3.2 will patch this issue.

### Workarounds

LDAP methods are only vulnerable if using `username_as_alias=true`. Remove all usage of this parameter and update any entity aliases accordingly.

### References

This issue was disclosed to HashiCorp and is the OpenBao equivalent of the following tickets:

- https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2025-20-vault-ldap-mfa-enforcement-bypass-when-using-username-as-alias/76092
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-6013

## Affected packages

- `github.com/openbao/openbao >= 0.1.0, < 2.3.2`
- `github.com/openbao/openbao < 0.0.0-20250807212521-c52795c1ef74`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `github.com/openbao/openbao 2.3.2`
- `github.com/openbao/openbao 0.0.0-20250807212521-c52795c1ef74`