Quick answer
Direct answer
Risk scores
| CVSS metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Attack vector (AV:N) | Network: reachable remotely |
| Attack complexity (AC:H) | High complexity |
| Privileges required (PR:L) | Low privileges required |
| User interaction (UI:N) | No user interaction |
| Scope (S:U) | Scope unchanged |
| Confidentiality (C:H) | High confidentiality impact |
| Integrity (I:H) | High integrity impact |
| Availability (A:H) | High availability impact |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
About Hashicorp Vault
CVE-2026-4525 affects Hashicorp Vault, a product from Hashicorp. Before acting, confirm where Hashicorp Vault runs in your estate, who owns it and whether it is reachable from the internet, because exposure decides real risk more than the score alone.
What the flaw is
In plain terms: If a Vault auth mount is configured to pass through the "Authorization" header, and the "Authorization" header is used to authenticate to Vault, Vault forwarded the Vault token to the auth plugin backend. Fixed in 2.0.0, 1.21.5, 1.20.10, and 1.19.16.
Based on its CVSS vector, the flaw can be reached over the network, needs some level of access, and needs no user interaction. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.
Affected versions and timeline
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Hashicorp Vault |
| Affected versions | Vault from 0.11.2 before 1.19.16; Vault from 0.11.2 before 2.0.0; Vault from 1.20.0 before 1.20.10; Vault from 1.21.0 before 1.21.5 |
| Published | Apr 17, 2026 |
| Last modified | Jul 15, 2026 |
| Added to CISA KEV | Not listed |
| Assigning CNA | security@hashicorp.com |
How to detect it
- Inventory every instance of Hashicorp Vault and record the running version against the affected range above.
- Check external attack surface scans for internet facing instances of the component.
- Review logs on affected systems for unusual requests, errors or new processes around the vulnerable function.
- Confirm with an authenticated vulnerability scan once your scanner has a check for this CVE.
How to fix it
- Apply the fixed version of Hashicorp Vault named in the vendor advisory.
- If patching must wait, restrict network access to the affected service and put it behind authentication or a web application firewall rule.
- Rescan after the change to prove the exposure is gone, then close the ticket.
CTEM action plan
| CTEM stage | What to do for this CVE |
|---|---|
| Scope | Add every business service that depends on Hashicorp Vault to the current CTEM cycle. |
| Discover | Find all instances, including shadow and cloud deployments, and record versions and exposure. |
| Prioritize | Rank using EPSS and CVSS together with asset exposure and business impact. |
| Validate | Confirm the flaw is reachable and exploitable in your environment and that compensating controls work. |
| Mobilize | Assign the fix to the asset owner with a due date matched to the priority, then verify closure. |
CWE References
Technical References
Frequently asked questions
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