# CVE-2025-6011: Timing Side-Channel in Vault’s Userpass Auth Method

> Attackers can enumerate valid usernames in Vault's userpass auth method via timing side-channels, exposing user existence information.

- **Severity:** Low 3.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Aug 2025
- **Updated:** 1 Aug 2025
- **Also known as:** BIT-vault-2025-6011, GHSA-mwgr-84fv-3jh9, GO-2025-3839, MINI-2f83-f3vf-78jj

## What is CVE-2025-6011?

CVE-2025-6011 is a low-severity vulnerability in Hashicorp Vault, published on 1 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-203 (Observable Discrepancy)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-6011?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/hashicorp/vault and vault. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/hashicorp/vault` | Go | All versions | 1.20.1 |
| `github.com/hashicorp/vault` | Go | All versions | 1.20.1 |
| `github.com/hashicorp/vault` | Go | All versions | 1.20.1 |
| `vault` | Bitnami | All versions | 1.20.1 |

Products: Hashicorp Vault.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-6011?

Upgrade github.com/hashicorp/vault to 1.20.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2025-6011 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-6011 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Hashicorp Vault

- [CVE-2020-35192](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-35192/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-12757](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-12757/): Improper Input Validation in HashiCorp Vault (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-6000](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-6000/): Arbitrary Remote Code Execution via Plugin Catalog Abuse (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2022-40186](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-40186/): HashiCorp Vault vulnerable to incorrect metadata access (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2022-36129](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-36129/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 9.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-6011 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-6011 is a low-severity vulnerability in Hashicorp Vault, published on 1 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-6011 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/hashicorp/vault (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.20.1
- github.com/hashicorp/vault (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.20.1
- github.com/hashicorp/vault (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.20.1
- vault (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 1.20.1

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-6011/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-6011/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-6011
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-6011
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-6011

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-6011/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.