Upstream privilege escalation via uncleared identity headers
Published Jun 19, 2026 · Updated Jun 19, 2026
Authentication bypass in Apache APISIX 3.5.0 through 3.16.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain upstream privileges. The OPA plugin leaves a client-supplied header intact when send_headers_upstream names it but an allowed OPA response omits it, so the upstream receives the spoofed value. Exploitation requires a protected route configured with send_headers_upstream, an OPA allow decision that omits a listed identity header, and an upstream service that trusts that header.
Summary
What happened
Authentication bypass in Apache APISIX 3.5.0 through 3.16.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain upstream privileges. The OPA plugin leaves a client-supplied header intact when send_headers_upstream names it but an allowed OPA response omits it, so the upstream receives the spoofed value. Exploitation requires a protected route configured with send_headers_upstream, an OPA allow decision that omits a listed identity header, and an upstream service that trusts that header.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-49231
- Published
- Jun 19, 2026
- Updated
- Jun 19, 2026
- Vendor
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Product
- Apache APISIX
- Classifications
- CWE-290
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=3.5.0 <=3.16.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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