Overview
CVE-2025-65998 details a significant security vulnerability in Apache Syncope, an open-source identity management system. If configured to encrypt user passwords in the internal database using AES, the system utilizes a hardcoded, default key value. This flaw allows a malicious attacker, who has gained access to the internal database content, to decrypt user passwords, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data breaches.
Technical Details
Apache Syncope offers the option to encrypt user passwords with AES within its internal database. However, when enabled, the system employs a default, hardcoded key that is publicly accessible within the source code. This means that anyone with access to the Syncope codebase or knowledge of the default configuration can decrypt the stored password values if they obtain a copy of the database. The vulnerability specifically affects user password encryption and does not impact encrypted plain attributes, which use a separate encryption mechanism.
CVSS Analysis
Due to the nature of the vulnerability and the potential for complete compromise of user accounts, the CVSS score will likely be HIGH or CRITICAL, although no score has been formally assigned to CVE-2025-65998 yet.
Factors contributing to a high score include:
- Attack Vector: Local (requires access to the database)
- Attack Complexity: Low (once database access is achieved, decryption is straightforward)
- Privileges Required: High (access to the database typically requires elevated privileges)
- User Interaction: None
- Scope: Changed (compromise of Syncope can impact other systems)
- Confidentiality Impact: High (passwords exposed)
- Integrity Impact: High (attacker can modify user accounts)
- Availability Impact: High (attacker can disable user accounts or the entire system)
A CVSS score will be added when officially assigned by NVD/NIST or similar organizations.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-65998 can have severe consequences:
- Unauthorized Access: Attackers can gain access to user accounts, potentially including privileged accounts, allowing them to control the Syncope system and any connected resources.
- Data Breach: Compromised accounts can be used to access sensitive data managed by Syncope, leading to data breaches and compliance violations.
- Reputation Damage: A successful attack can severely damage an organization’s reputation and erode customer trust.
- System Compromise: An attacker could potentially use access gained through compromised accounts to pivot to other systems on the network.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The recommended solution is to upgrade your Apache Syncope installation to one of the following versions:
- Version 3.0.15
- Version 4.0.3
These versions contain the fix for CVE-2025-65998, which removes the hardcoded AES key and implements a more secure key management mechanism.
Additional Recommendations:
- After upgrading, ensure that the user password encryption mechanism is properly configured to utilize a unique, randomly generated AES key stored securely. Consult the Apache Syncope documentation for detailed instructions.
- Regularly review and update security configurations in Apache Syncope and other identity management systems.
- Implement strong access controls to protect the internal database from unauthorized access.
