CVE-2026-44046: Apache APISIX Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2026-44046 Overview

CVE-2026-44046 is a Use of Less Trusted Source vulnerability [CWE-348] affecting Apache APISIX, an open-source, dynamic, high-performance API gateway. The flaw resides in the wolf-rbac plugin under its default configuration. Attackers can pollute access logs with spoofed identity information and bypass IP-based access control rules by injecting client-controlled values that the gateway trusts without validation.

The vulnerability affects Apache APISIX versions 1.2.0 through 3.16.0. Apache fixed the issue in version 3.17.0.

Critical Impact
Attackers can spoof identity information in logs and circumvent IP-based access controls when the wolf-rbac plugin runs under its default configuration.

Affected Products

Apache APISIX 1.2.0 through 3.16.0
Deployments using the wolf-rbac authentication plugin
API gateway instances relying on IP-based access control rules

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-19 - CVE-2026-44046 published to NVD
2026-06-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-44046

Vulnerability Analysis

Apache APISIX is a Lua-based API gateway that routes, authenticates, and observes traffic for backend services. The wolf-rbac plugin integrates APISIX with the Wolf role-based access control (RBAC) system, providing user authentication and authorization.

Under its default configuration, the plugin trusts client-supplied headers or request attributes as authoritative sources of identity and client address information. Because these values originate from the request itself rather than from a verified upstream source, an attacker can supply arbitrary values that the gateway then propagates into logs and access control evaluations.

The practical impact is twofold. Logs record attacker-chosen identities, which undermines forensic accuracy and accountability. IP-based access control rules, evaluated against the spoofed source, can be coerced into granting access that the deployed policy was intended to block.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified as Use of Less Trusted Source [CWE-348]. The wolf-rbac plugin reads identity and client-origin metadata from request fields that the client controls, instead of deriving them from authenticated session state or a trusted reverse-proxy header chain. No validation distinguishes spoofed values from values populated by trusted infrastructure.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to an APISIX route protected by the wolf-rbac plugin in its default configuration and a low-privilege authenticated context. An attacker submits crafted requests containing forged identity fields or client-address values. APISIX records the attacker-supplied data and evaluates IP-based access control rules against it, enabling log tampering and potential rule bypass. No public proof-of-concept code is referenced in the vendor advisory. See the Apache Mailing List Thread for vendor-provided technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-44046

Indicators of Compromise

Access log entries containing inconsistent or implausible user identity values associated with the wolf-rbac plugin.
Requests where the recorded client IP conflicts with the network path or load balancer headers.
Successful access to resources gated by IP allowlists from clients whose true source address is outside the allowed range.

Detection Strategies

Audit APISIX configuration for use of the wolf-rbac plugin and verify whether default settings remain in effect.
Correlate APISIX access logs with upstream load balancer or CDN logs to identify mismatches in source IP or user identity.
Review IP-based access control rule hits for patterns indicating header-driven bypass attempts.

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest APISIX access and error logs into a centralized analytics platform and alert on identity or IP anomalies.
Monitor for repeated requests from a single TCP source presenting varying user identifiers through the wolf-rbac plugin.
Track configuration drift on APISIX nodes to detect unauthorized changes to plugin settings.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-44046

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Apache APISIX to version 3.17.0 or later, which addresses the vulnerability.
Inventory all APISIX deployments and identify routes that enable the wolf-rbac plugin.
Review IP-based access control rules for evidence of bypass and rotate any credentials that may have been exposed through spoofed log entries.

Patch Information

Apache released the fix in Apache APISIX 3.17.0. Administrators running any version from 1.2.0 through 3.16.0 should plan an upgrade. Refer to the Apache Mailing List Thread and the Openwall OSS-Security Discussion for the official advisory and remediation guidance.

Workarounds

If immediate upgrade is not feasible, harden the wolf-rbac plugin configuration so identity and client-IP values are derived from trusted sources rather than client-controlled inputs.
Place APISIX behind a reverse proxy that strips or normalizes untrusted client headers before they reach the gateway.
Avoid relying solely on IP-based access control for sensitive routes protected by wolf-rbac until the upgrade is applied.

bash

# Verify the running Apache APISIX version
apisix version

# Check whether the wolf-rbac plugin is enabled in configuration
grep -R "wolf-rbac" /usr/local/apisix/conf/