CVE-2026-44046: Apache APISIX wolf-rbac Plugin Identity Spoofing and Access Control Bypass

Technical summary

CVE-2026-44046 is classified as a Use of Less Trusted Source vulnerability (CWE-348) in the wolf-rbac plugin bundled with Apache APISIX. The plugin fails to properly validate or authenticate the source of identity and access control information, trusting data that an attacker can manipulate. This allows an unauthenticated, network-adjacent attacker to inject spoofed identity claims into system logs and craft requests that bypass IP-based access control rules without requiring special privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 5.8 (Medium severity) with a network attack vector and low attack complexity.

Business impact

Log integrity is compromised, making audit trails unreliable for security investigations and compliance reporting. Attackers can forge identity information to obscure their actions or frame legitimate users. IP-based network segmentation—a common control in defense-in-depth strategies—becomes ineffective if an attacker can spoof their originating address or modify access control enforcement. Organizations relying on APISIX for API gateway security and access control should treat this as a moderate integrity risk that could impact incident response, forensic analysis, and network isolation effectiveness.

Affected systems

Apache APISIX versions 1.2.0 through 3.16.0 are vulnerable. Organizations running APISIX as an API gateway—particularly those using the wolf-rbac plugin for role-based access control—are affected. This includes cloud deployments, on-premises API infrastructure, and hybrid environments where APISIX serves as a security boundary. The vulnerability requires no specific configuration beyond default deployment of the wolf-rbac plugin.

Exploitability

The attack requires only network access; no authentication, elevated privileges, or user interaction is needed. An attacker can send specially crafted requests over the network to inject spoofed identity data. The low attack complexity means no special timing, race conditions, or environmental factors are required. However, exploitability is limited by the attacker's ability to influence what downstream systems log or enforce based on the spoofed identity, making real-world impact dependent on how identity data is subsequently used by applications and logging systems.

Remediation

Upgrade Apache APISIX to version 3.17.0 or later. Organizations unable to upgrade immediately should review their reliance on the wolf-rbac plugin for critical access control decisions and consider supplementary validation of identity claims using independent, trusted sources. Disable or isolate the wolf-rbac plugin if feasible pending patch deployment.

Patch guidance

Verify against the official Apache APISIX release notes that version 3.17.0 or later is available for your deployment model (Docker, Kubernetes, binary, source). Test the upgrade in a staging environment to confirm compatibility with existing API routes, plugins, and authentication configurations. Pay particular attention to any customizations to the wolf-rbac plugin. Coordinate with application teams to ensure no dependent workflows are disrupted. Plan a phased rollout to production to minimize service disruption.

Detection guidance

Monitor APISIX logs and metrics for anomalous identity claims or access control bypasses. Implement alerting on requests that originate from unexpected IP ranges or carry identity headers inconsistent with your authentication system. Review audit logs for any entries showing access from spoofed identities that differ from authenticated user identities. Search logs for wolf-rbac plugin errors or warnings that might indicate attempted exploitation. Compare API access patterns before and after patch deployment to identify any suspicious activity that may have occurred while the system was vulnerable.

Why prioritize this

Although rated MEDIUM in severity, this vulnerability directly undermines two foundational security controls: log integrity and network-based access restriction. Any organization for which audit trail trustworthiness is critical for compliance, forensics, or incident response should prioritize patching. The low attack complexity and lack of authentication requirement mean an attacker on the network can exploit this without significant technical sophistication. The impact is primarily on integrity rather than confidentiality or availability, which moderates the overall risk posture but does not eliminate the urgency to remediate.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.8 reflects a network-accessible attack requiring no authentication, but with limited scope impact (integrity only) and no direct compromise of confidentiality or system availability. The Medium severity appropriately captures that while this vulnerability enables identity spoofing and log pollution, the downstream harm depends on how attacked systems use or trust the spoofed identity data. Organizations with strict audit and compliance requirements or those using IP-based segmentation as a primary control may assign higher internal risk ratings.

Frequently asked questions