vLLM is an inference and serving engine for large language models (LLMs). Before version 0.11.0rc2, the API key support in vLLM performs validation using a method that was vulnerable to a timing attack. API key validation uses a string comparison that takes longer the more characters the provided API key gets correct. Data analysis across many attempts could allow an attacker to determine when it finds the next correct character in the key sequence. Deployments relying on vLLM's built-in API key validation are vulnerable to authentication bypass using this technique. Version 0.11.0rc2 fixes the issue.
History

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Vllm-project
Vllm-project vllm
Vendors & Products Vllm-project
Vllm-project vllm

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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


Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in vLLM’s API token authentication logic, where token comparisons were not performed in constant time. This weakness could allow an attacker to exploit timing differences to guess valid tokens and bypass authentication. vLLM is an inference and serving engine for large language models (LLMs). Before version 0.11.0rc2, the API key support in vLLM performs validation using a method that was vulnerable to a timing attack. API key validation uses a string comparison that takes longer the more characters the provided API key gets correct. Data analysis across many attempts could allow an attacker to determine when it finds the next correct character in the key sequence. Deployments relying on vLLM's built-in API key validation are vulnerable to authentication bypass using this technique. Version 0.11.0rc2 fixes the issue.
Title vllm: Timing Attack in vLLM API Token Verification Leading to Authentication Bypass vLLM vulnerable to timing attack at bearer auth
Weaknesses CWE-385
References

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in vLLM’s API token authentication logic, where token comparisons were not performed in constant time. This weakness could allow an attacker to exploit timing differences to guess valid tokens and bypass authentication.
Title vllm: Timing Attack in vLLM API Token Verification Leading to Authentication Bypass
Weaknesses CWE-208
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

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'}

threat_severity

Important


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published: 2025-10-07T14:06:49.042Z

Updated: 2025-10-07T15:28:10.303Z

Reserved: 2025-09-15T19:13:16.905Z

Link: CVE-2025-59425

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2025-10-07T14:32:28.595Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2025-10-07T14:15:38.950

Modified: 2025-10-07T14:15:38.950

Link: CVE-2025-59425

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2025-10-07T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2025-59425 - Bugzilla