CVE-2025-56157: Langgenius Dify Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-56157 Overview

CVE-2025-56157 is a critical hardcoded credentials vulnerability affecting Langgenius Dify versions through 1.5.1. The vulnerability stems from default PostgreSQL username and password credentials being specified directly in the docker-compose.yaml file included in the application's source code. This configuration issue allows attackers who can reach the PostgreSQL service to authenticate using well-known default credentials, potentially leading to complete database compromise.

It is important to note that the supplier reports the Docker configuration does not expose PostgreSQL (on TCP port 5432) by default in version 1.0.1 or later. However, organizations running earlier versions or those with custom network configurations that expose the database port remain at significant risk.

Critical Impact

Attackers with network access to the PostgreSQL service can authenticate using hardcoded default credentials, potentially gaining full database access including sensitive application data, user credentials, and AI model configurations.

Affected Products

• Langgenius Dify versions through 1.5.1
• Dify Docker deployments using default docker-compose.yaml configurations
• Self-hosted Dify installations with exposed PostgreSQL ports

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-12-18 - CVE CVE-2025-56157 published to NVD
• 2026-01-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-56157

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials), a common security weakness where authentication credentials are embedded directly in source code or configuration files distributed with software. In the case of Dify, the docker-compose.yaml file shipped with the source code contains plaintext PostgreSQL credentials that any user can view by examining the repository.

The impact of this vulnerability is severe because PostgreSQL databases in AI/LLM orchestration platforms like Dify typically store sensitive information including API keys, user data, conversation histories, and application configurations. An attacker who successfully authenticates to the database could extract this data, modify application behavior, or destroy records entirely.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the inclusion of static, predictable credentials in the docker-compose.yaml configuration file that is distributed as part of the Dify source code repository. This practice, while convenient for development and quick-start deployments, creates a significant security risk when users deploy the application without changing these default credentials. The credentials become publicly known since the source code is hosted in a public GitHub Dify Repository.

Attack Vector

The attack vector requires network accessibility to the PostgreSQL service running on TCP port 5432. In vulnerable configurations, an attacker would:

1. Identify a Dify deployment with an exposed PostgreSQL port through network scanning
2. Obtain the default credentials from the publicly available docker-compose.yaml file in the Dify repository
3. Connect to the PostgreSQL database using standard database client tools
4. Execute arbitrary SQL commands to read, modify, or delete data

While version 1.0.1 and later do not expose PostgreSQL by default in the Docker configuration, deployments with custom network settings, reverse proxies, or cloud misconfigurations may still have the database port accessible to attackers.

The vulnerability exploitation involves connecting to the exposed PostgreSQL service using the default credentials found in the docker-compose.yaml file. Attackers can use standard PostgreSQL clients such as psql to connect and issue database commands. The publicly available Gist at GitHub Gist Code Snippet contains additional technical details about this vulnerability.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-56157

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected database connection attempts from external IP addresses to PostgreSQL port 5432
• Authentication logs showing successful logins from unknown or suspicious sources
• Unusual SQL query patterns or bulk data extraction from the Dify database
• Database user sessions originating from non-application hosts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor PostgreSQL authentication logs for connections from IP addresses outside expected application server ranges
• Implement network intrusion detection rules to alert on external connections to PostgreSQL services
• Review Docker network configurations to identify accidentally exposed database ports
• Audit docker-compose.yaml files for default or weak credentials

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable PostgreSQL connection logging and forward logs to a SIEM for analysis
• Configure network monitoring to alert on any traffic to port 5432 from external networks
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unauthorized queries or data access
• Set up alerts for new database user creation or privilege escalation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-56157

Immediate Actions Required

• Change default PostgreSQL credentials immediately in all Dify deployments
• Verify PostgreSQL port 5432 is not exposed to external networks using firewall rules
• Review database access logs for any signs of unauthorized access using default credentials
• Update to Dify version 1.0.1 or later which does not expose PostgreSQL by default

Patch Information

Langgenius has addressed this issue in version 1.0.1 by modifying the default Docker configuration to not expose PostgreSQL to external networks. Organizations should upgrade to at least Dify Release 1.0.1 or later to benefit from the improved default security posture. Additional details about the fix can be found in GitHub Dify Pull Request #15286.

Workarounds

• Generate strong, unique PostgreSQL credentials and update the docker-compose.yaml file before deployment
• Use environment variables or secrets management solutions to inject credentials rather than hardcoding them
• Configure Docker networks to isolate the PostgreSQL service from external access
• Implement IP-based access controls at the firewall level to restrict database access to application servers only

# Configuration example - Update docker-compose.yaml with secure credentials
# Replace default credentials with strong, randomly generated values

# Generate a secure password
export POSTGRES_PASSWORD=$(openssl rand -base64 32)

# Update the docker-compose.yaml environment variables
# POSTGRES_USER: dify_admin
# POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}

# Ensure PostgreSQL is only accessible from the internal Docker network
# Remove or comment out any port mappings like "5432:5432"