CVE-2025-65998

Apache Syncope: Default AES key used for internal password encryption

Published Nov 24, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Apache Syncope can be configured to store the user password values in the internal database with AES encryption, though this is not the default option.

When AES is configured, the default key value, hard-coded in the source code, is always used. This allows a malicious attacker, once obtained access to the internal database content, to reconstruct the original cleartext password values.
This is not affecting encrypted plain attributes, whose values are also stored using AES encryption.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.0.15 / 4.0.3, which fix this issue.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-jqg8-m35q-jh7j Apache Syncope's AES encryption stores hard-coded passwords in internal database
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apache
Apache syncope
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:apache:syncope:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache syncope
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Apache Syncope can be configured to store the user password values in the internal database with AES encryption, though this is not the default option. When AES is configured, the default key value, hard-coded in the source code, is always used. This allows a malicious attacker, once obtained access to the internal database content, to reconstruct the original cleartext password values. This is not affecting encrypted plain attributes, whose values are also stored using AES encryption. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.0.15 / 4.0.3, which fix this issue.
Title Apache Syncope: Default AES key used for internal password encryption
Weaknesses CWE-321
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
apache
Published
Updated
Nov 24, 2025, 3:36 PM
Reserved
Nov 19, 2025, 8:09 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Nov 24, 2025, 2:15 PM
Modified
Oct 18, 2026, 8:10 PM