Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
CVE-2026-50194 is a high-severity authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability in Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint from SteeltoeOSS, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint versions: < 4.2.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.24% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeltoeOSS | Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint | < 4.2.0 | Not stated |
| SteeltoeOSS | Steeltoe.Management.EndpointCore | >= 3.2.2, < 3.4.0 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
Steeltoe is an open source project that provides a collection of libraries that helps users build cloud-native applications. When Steeltoe management endpoints versions 3.2.2 through 3.3.0 and 4.1.0 are configured to listen on an alternate port (`Management:Endpoints:Port` is configured), the middleware responsible for restricting access to the endpoints uses the `Host` HTTP header rather than the actual network socket port. Versions 3.4.0 and 4.2.0 patch the issue. If an immediate upgrade to a patched version is not possible, add explicit ASP.NET Core authorization (`RequireAuthorization`) to all sensitive actuator endpoints as a defense-in-depth measure independent of port isolation and/or configure the reverse proxy or load balancer to enforce the `Host` header value and prevent clients from setting an arbitrary port.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Funnel all access through a single choke point to simplify how users can access a resource. For every access, perform a check to determine if the user has permissions to access the resource.
More Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities (CWE-288)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in Steeltoe.Management.Endpoint
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
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