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TI-2023-18297 Aliases CVE-2023-36456

Authentik lacks Proxy IP headers validation

Priority MEDIUM 43CWE-436Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Low · Low · Low
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

authentik is an open-source Identity Provider. Prior to versions 2023.4.3 and 2023.5.5, authentik does not verify the source of the X-Forwarded-For and X-Real-IP headers, both in the Python code and the go code. Only authentik setups that are directly accessible by users without a reverse proxy are susceptible to this. Possible spoofing of IP addresses in logs, downstream applications proxied by (built in) outpost, IP bypassing in custom flows if used. This poses a possible security risk when someone has flows or policies that check the user's IP address, e.g. when they want to ignore the user's 2 factor authentication when the user is connected to the company network. A second security risk is that the IP addresses in the logfiles and user sessions are not reliable anymore. Anybody can spoof this address and one cannot verify that the user has logged in from the IP address that is in their account's log. A third risk is that this header is passed on to the proxied application behind an outpost. The application may do any kind of verification, logging, blocking or rate limiting based on the IP address, and this IP address can be overridden by anybody that want to. Versions 2023.4.3 and 2023.5.5 contain a patch for this issue.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00794 56th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed authentik (goauthentik): 2023.4.3, 2023.5.5

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
goauthentikauthentikbefore 2023.4.3; 2023.5.0 to before 2023.5.52023.4.3, 2023.5.5Patch availableCNA
  • authentik Vendorgoauthentik Affected before 2023.4.3; 2023.5.0 to before 2023.5.5 Fixed in 2023.4.3, 2023.5.5 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:goauthentik:authentik:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2023.4.3; 2023.5.0 to before 2023.5.5Vulnerablegoauthentik
  • cpe:2.3:a:goauthentik:authentik:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2023.4.3; 2023.5.0 to before 2023.5.5 Vulnerable ·goauthentik

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA authentik (goauthentik) Fixed in 2023.4.3, 2023.5.5

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-36456

References

  • TI-2026-36603 authentik: SourceStage bypass via empty POST CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2022-07608 authentik vulnerable to Improper Authentication via invitation URL token reuse CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.4
  • TI-2026-36598 authentik: `UserSourceConnection.user` and `GroupSourceConnection.group` are changeable through the API CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-22816 authentik allows existing authenticated users to create arbitrary accounts CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
  • TI-2024-25628 Insufficient access control for OAuth2 Device Code flow in authentik CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2023-24876 authentik potential installation takeover when default admin user is deleted CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
See all 32 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences