Apache Syncope is an open-source identity management system that can be configured to store user passwords encrypted with AES in its internal database. However, in versions 2.1, 3.0, and 4.0, when AES encryption is enabled for password storage, the system uses a hard-coded cryptographic key embedded in the source code rather than a unique, securely generated key. This design flaw (CWE-321) means that any attacker who gains access to the internal database can decrypt the stored AES-encrypted passwords by using the known hard-coded key, effectively exposing user credentials in cleartext. The vulnerability does not affect other encrypted attributes stored by Syncope but specifically targets password encryption. Exploitation requires no privileges or user interaction and can be performed remotely if the database is accessible. The vulnerability was assigned CVE-2025-65998 with a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N), indicating high confidentiality impact but no impact on integrity or availability. Apache has addressed this issue in versions 3.0.15 and 4.0.3 by removing the hard-coded key and implementing proper key management. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. Organizations using affected versions should prioritize upgrading and reviewing their encryption key management policies to prevent credential compromise.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-65998 is the compromise of user password confidentiality within Apache Syncope deployments that have AES encryption enabled for password storage. Attackers who gain access to the internal database can decrypt passwords easily due to the hard-coded key, leading to potential unauthorized access to user accounts and downstream systems relying on these credentials. This can facilitate lateral movement, privilege escalation, and identity theft within affected organizations. For European organizations, especially those in finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors that rely on Apache Syncope for identity management, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to user credential security and overall identity governance. The breach of password confidentiality can also lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to inadequate protection of personal data. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability directly, the exposure of credentials can indirectly lead to broader security incidents. The ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction increases the threat level, particularly if database access controls are weak or compromised.

1. Immediately upgrade Apache Syncope to version 3.0.15 or 4.0.3, where the hard-coded key vulnerability is fixed. 2. Audit current deployments to identify if AES encryption for password storage is enabled and verify if affected versions are in use. 3. Restrict and monitor access to the internal database to prevent unauthorized access, employing network segmentation and strong access controls. 4. Implement secure cryptographic key management practices, ensuring keys are generated dynamically, stored securely, and rotated regularly rather than hard-coded. 5. Conduct a credential audit and enforce password resets for all users whose passwords may have been exposed. 6. Enhance logging and alerting on database access to detect suspicious activities promptly. 7. Review and strengthen overall identity and access management policies to limit the impact of credential exposure. 8. Consider additional encryption layers or tokenization for sensitive attributes beyond default Syncope configurations. 9. Educate administrators and developers about secure cryptographic practices to prevent similar issues in custom configurations or extensions.