📄 Description (English)
OpenBao is an open source identity-based secrets management system. Prior to 2.5.3, when OpenBao's initial namespace deletion fails, subsequent retries fail to properly remove all data before marking the namespace as deleted. This can affect any outstanding leases as well as potentially leaving unrelated storage entries around. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.5.3.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
OpenBao versions prior to 2.5.3 contain a namespace deletion vulnerability where failed initial deletion attempts leave orphaned data and leases in the system. This can result in incomplete cleanup of sensitive credentials and storage entries, potentially exposing secrets management infrastructure to data leakage and compliance violations. Organizations using OpenBao for secrets management must upgrade immediately to version 2.5.3 to ensure proper namespace cleanup and prevent credential exposure.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 20, 2026 15:38
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi organizations using OpenBao for secrets management infrastructure, particularly in banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions), government agencies (NCA oversight), healthcare systems managing sensitive credentials, and energy sector (ARAMCO and subsidiaries). The incomplete namespace deletion can leave sensitive API keys, database credentials, and authentication tokens exposed in storage, violating SAMA CSF requirements for secure credential management and NCA ECC 2024 data protection controls. Telecom operators (STC, Mobily) using OpenBao for infrastructure secrets are also at risk of credential exposure affecting network security.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare and Medical Services
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Critical Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all OpenBao deployments in your environment and document current versions
2. Audit recent namespace deletion operations to identify potentially affected namespaces
3. Review storage backend logs for orphaned entries and incomplete deletions
4. Implement temporary access controls restricting namespace deletion operations until patching is complete
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade OpenBao to version 2.5.3 or later immediately
2. Test upgrade in non-production environment first
3. Plan maintenance window for production upgrades with minimal impact
4. After upgrade, perform full namespace cleanup validation
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Disable namespace deletion functionality until patch is applied
2. Implement manual verification procedures for namespace deletions
3. Regularly audit storage backend for orphaned entries
4. Rotate all credentials that may have been in deleted namespaces
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor OpenBao logs for failed namespace deletion attempts followed by retry operations
2. Alert on storage backend entries remaining after namespace deletion completion
3. Track lease count discrepancies in deleted namespaces
4. Implement audit logging for all namespace lifecycle operations
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع نشرات OpenBao في بيئتك وتوثيق الإصدارات الحالية
2. تدقيق عمليات حذف مساحات الأسماء الأخيرة لتحديد مساحات الأسماء المتأثرة المحتملة
3. مراجعة سجلات خادم التخزين للإدخالات اليتيمة والحذف غير المكتمل
4. تنفيذ عناصر تحكم الوصول المؤقتة لتقييد عمليات حذف مساحات الأسماء حتى اكتمال التصحيح
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. ترقية OpenBao إلى الإصدار 2.5.3 أو أحدث فوراً
2. اختبار الترقية في بيئة غير الإنتاج أولاً
3. التخطيط لنافذة صيانة لترقيات الإنتاج بأقل تأثير
4. بعد الترقية، إجراء التحقق الكامل من تنظيف مساحات الأسماء
عناصر التحكم التعويضية (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تعطيل وظيفة حذف مساحات الأسماء حتى يتم تطبيق التصحيح
2. تنفيذ إجراءات التحقق اليدوية لحذف مساحات الأسماء
3. تدقيق منتظم لخادم التخزين للإدخالات اليتيمة
4. تدوير جميع بيانات الاعتماد التي قد تكون في مساحات الأسماء المحذوفة
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة سجلات OpenBao لمحاولات حذف مساحات الأسماء الفاشلة متبوعة بعمليات إعادة المحاولة
2. التنبيه على إدخالات خادم التخزين المتبقية بعد اكتمال حذف مساحات الأسماء
3. تتبع تناقضات عدد التأجيرات في مساحات الأسماء المحذوفة
4. تنفيذ تسجيل التدقيق لجميع عمليات دورة حياة مساحات الأسماء
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.8.2.1 - User access management and credential protection
ECC 2024 A.8.2.3 - Management of privileged access rights
ECC 2024 A.12.4.1 - Event logging and monitoring
ECC 2024 A.12.4.3 - Protection of log information
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-2 - Software, platforms, and applications inventory
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Identities and credentials management
SAMA CSF PR.DS-1 - Data security and protection
SAMA CSF DE.AE-1 - Anomalies and events detection
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.1.1 - Policies for information security
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1.1 - User registration and de-registration
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2.1 - User access provisioning
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.3.1 - Management of privileged access
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 3.2.1 - Render PAN unreadable and protect stored data
PCI DSS 8.1.1 - Unique user ID assignment
PCI DSS 8.2.1 - Strong authentication mechanisms
🔗 References & Sources 3
🔗
https://github.com/openbao/openbao/commit/6d2e0506e2b41be0eaa6643bf7b4efc9a2c09445
security-advisories@github.com
Patch
🔗
https://github.com/openbao/openbao/releases/tag/v2.5.3
security-advisories@github.com
Product
Release Notes
🔗
https://github.com/openbao/openbao/security/advisories/GHSA-vv66-6rp4-wr4f
security-advisories@github.com
Mitigation
Vendor Advisory
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
openbao:openbao