CVE-2021-32701

HIGH
Published Jun 22, 20215y ago · Modified Jun 17, 20262w ago
7.5 CVSS 3.1
High
Find Similar
Published Jun 22, 2021 5y ago
Last Modified Jun 17, 2026 2w ago

Description

ORY Oathkeeper is an Identity & Access Proxy (IAP) and Access Control Decision API that authorizes HTTP requests based on sets of Access Rules. When you make a request to an endpoint that requires the scope `foo` using an access token granted with that `foo` scope, introspection will be valid and that token will be cached. The problem comes when a second requests to an endpoint that requires the scope `bar` is made before the cache has expired. Whether the token is granted or not to the `bar` scope, introspection will be valid. A patch will be released with `v0.38.12-beta.1`. Per default, caching is disabled for the `oauth2_introspection` authenticator. When caching is disabled, this vulnerability does not exist. The cache is checked in [`func (a *AuthenticatorOAuth2Introspection) Authenticate(...)`](https://github.com/ory/oathkeeper/blob/6a31df1c3779425e05db1c2a381166b087cb29a4/pipeline/authn/authenticator_oauth2_introspection.go#L152). From [`tokenFromCache()`](https://github.com/ory/oathkeeper/blob/6a31df1c3779425e05db1c2a381166b087cb29a4/pipeline/authn/authenticator_oauth2_introspection.go#L97) it seems that it only validates the token expiration date, but ignores whether the token has or not the proper scopes. The vulnerability was introduced in PR #424. During review, we failed to require appropriate test coverage by the submitter which is the primary reason that the vulnerability passed the review process.

CVSS Details

Base Score
7.5
Exploitability
3.9
Impact
3.6
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Attack Vector Network
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required None
User Interaction None
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality High
Integrity None
Availability None

Threat Intelligence

No active exploitation signals — not in CISA KEV and no EPSS score yet.

Exploit & Patch Status
No Known Exploit
Patch Available

Weaknesses 1

CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization Authorization

Affected Products 12

VendorProductVersionRange
oryoathkeeper0.38.0any
oryoathkeeper0.38.1any
oryoathkeeper0.38.2any
oryoathkeeper0.38.3any
oryoathkeeper0.38.4any
oryoathkeeper0.38.5any
oryoathkeeper0.38.6any
oryoathkeeper0.38.7any
oryoathkeeper0.38.8any
oryoathkeeper0.38.9any
oryoathkeeper0.38.10any
oryoathkeeper0.38.11any

References 3

  • github.com https://github.com/ory/oathkeeper/commit/1f9f625c1a49e134ae2299ee95b8cf158feec932
    PatchThird Party Advisory
  • github.com https://github.com/ory/oathkeeper/pull/424
    PatchThird Party Advisory
  • github.com https://github.com/ory/oathkeeper/security/advisories/GHSA-qvp4-rpmr-xwrr
    Third Party Advisory

Remediation

  • github.com https://github.com/ory/oathkeeper/commit/1f9f625c1a49e134ae2299ee95b8cf158feec932
    PatchThird Party Advisory
  • github.com https://github.com/ory/oathkeeper/pull/424
    PatchThird Party Advisory