# CVE-2026-55770: OpenBao LDAP injection in ldaputil search filter construction

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-55770-openbao-ldap-injection-in-ldaputil-search-filter-construction  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-15. Updated: 2026-06-19  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-55770 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.8 · Published 2026-09-15

OpenBao, an open-source secrets management platform, is vulnerable to an authentication bypass when using LDAP. An attacker can craft a specially formatted username to manipulate the underlying directory search, potentially logging in as a different user, such as an administrator. This could allow unauthorized access to sensitive corporate secrets, credentials, and security policies.

Technologies: [github.com/openbao/openbao (Go)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/github-com-openbao-openbao), [OpenBao](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/openbao). Vendors: [Go](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/go), [OpenBao](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/openbao).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-55770 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-55770 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-55770?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.8, published 15 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** github.com/openbao/openbao (Go) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=0.0.0-20260617104213-10b7825c714c,introduced=0.1.0, SEMVER:introduced=0.1.0,last_affected=2.5.4; OpenBao >= 0.1.0, <= 2.5.4.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-55770?** Yes. github.com/openbao/openbao (Go): upgrade to 0.0.0-20260617104213-10b7825c714c or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-55770 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-55770?** Check whether you run github.com/openbao/openbao (Go) or OpenBao at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- github.com/openbao/openbao (Go): upgrade to 0.0.0-20260617104213-10b7825c714c or later

  ```sh
  go get github.com/openbao/openbao@v0.0.0-20260617104213-10b7825c714c
  ```


## Technical details

An LDAP injection vulnerability exists in OpenBao's `sdk/helper/ldaputil/client.go` because it uses `EscapeLDAPValue()` (RFC 4514) instead of `ldap.EscapeFilter()` (RFC 4515) when constructing search filters. While `EscapeLDAPValue()` is appropriate for Distinguished Names, it fails to neutralize characters like `*`, `(`, and `)` which are significant in LDAP filters. A remote attacker with the ability to provide a username at login can inject filter logic to alter the search query. This allows the attacker to match arbitrary user entries, potentially resulting in the issuance of a token bound to a high-privileged account if the LDAP server returns that entry first. The vulnerability is patched in version 2.5.5.

## Affected products

- OpenBao OpenBao >= 0.1.0, <= 2.5.4

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-55770
- GHSA-6mwx-4547-5vc9
- GO-2026-5182

## Timeline

- 2026-06-17: patched: Fix committed to main branch
- 2026-06-19: advisory: GitHub Advisory published

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/alcls01111](https://api.github.com/users/alcls01111)
- [https://github.com/alcls01111](https://github.com/alcls01111)
- [https://api.github.com/users/alcls01111/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/alcls01111/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/alcls01111/repos](https://api.github.com/users/alcls01111/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/57210489?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/57210489?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/alcls01111/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/alcls01111/events%7B/privacy%7D)

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- [OpenBao policy cache incorrect authorization via namespace traversal](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115365-openbao-from-2-3-0-before-2-6-3-contains-an-incorrect)
- [OpenBao ACL bypass in policy denial evaluation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115361-openbao-before-2-6-3-contains-an-acl-bypass-vulnerability-that)
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- [OpenBao Agent information disclosure via stdout in exec rendering mode](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-77285-openbao-agent-information-disclosure-via-stdout-in-exec-rendering)
- [OpenBao recovery mode timing attack token leakage](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-63132-openbao-recovery-mode-timing-attack-token-leakage)