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.
Fix
Patch, vendor advisory and mitigation references on NVD 2
- https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/commit/ee10d7e6ff5875386c7f136ce8b5f525c8fcef48 Patch
- https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/security/advisories/GHSA-wr9h-g72x-mwhm Exploit, Vendor Advisory
Every line above is quoted from NVD, CISA, Microsoft, the vendor's own advisory or DISA; nothing is generated.
Change history 1
- First seenCVSS 7.5 · vllmNVD modified 2026-10-19 16:10
Affected (CPE criteria) 2
cpe:2.3:a:vllm:vllm:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:vllm:vllm:0.11.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
References 4
- https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/blob/4b946d693e0af15740e9ca9c0e059d5f333b1083/vllm/entrypoints/openai/api_server.py#L1270-L1274 Product
- https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/commit/ee10d7e6ff5875386c7f136ce8b5f525c8fcef48 Patch
- https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/releases/tag/v0.11.0 Release Notes
- https://github.com/vllm-project/vllm/security/advisories/GHSA-wr9h-g72x-mwhm Exploit, Vendor Advisory