Open WebUI's API key endpoint restrictions bypassed via `x-api-key` header — full message processing on restricted endpoints
CVSS score
6.5
EPSS probability
%0.3
Risk score
0.0
Published
5 mo ago
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Vulnerability description
DayBreach CVE AI Research
CVE-2026-45339 has vendor, distribution, patch and security-source records on file. We can compare them and prepare an explanation linked to the evidence.
### Summary Open WebUI allows admins to restrict which API endpoints an API key can access. When an API key is restricted from `/api/v1/messages`, requests using the `Authorization: Bearer sk-...` header are correctly blocked with 403. However, the same key sent via the `x-api-key` header bypasses the restriction entirely — the request is authenticated, the model is invoked, and a full response is returned. ### Details Open WebUI's Anthropic-compatible API path accepts authentication via `x-api-key` header (standard for the Anthropic API). The endpoint restriction check only applies to keys presented via the `Authorization` header. When the same `sk-...` key is supplied in `x-api-key`, the restriction check is skipped but the key is still valid for authentication. This means any API key, regardless of its configured endpoint restrictions, can access any API endpoint by simply using `x-api-key` instead of `Authorization`. ### PoC **Verified against Open WebUI v0.8.11.** **Setup:** Admin creates a user with an API key that has endpoint restrictions (not allowed on `/api/v1/messages`). A mock OpenAI-compatible model (`mock-model`) is configured. ```bash API_KEY="sk-dc56016d720e49ba9e95584d602b79bb" # Test 1: Authorization header — BLOCKED (endpoint restriction enforced) curl -s -X POST http://target:8080/api/v1/messages \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $API_KEY" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"model":"mock-model","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"via Authorization header"}]}' # Test 2: x-api-key header — BYPASS (same key, restriction skipped) curl -s -X POST http://target:8080/api/v1/messages \ -H "x-api-key: $API_KEY" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"model":"mock-model","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"via x-api-key header"}]}' ``` **Verified output:** ``` # Authorization header: {"detail":"API key not allowed to access this endpoint."} # x-api-key header (SAME key): {"id":"chatcmpl-mock","type":"message","role":"assistant","content":[{"type":"text","text":"MOCK-CHAT-RESPONSE"}],"model":"mock-model","usage":{"input_tokens":1,"output_tokens":1}} ``` The same API key is rejected via `Authorization` (403) but fully processed via `x-api-key` (200 with model response). ### Impact Any API key with endpoint restrictions can bypass those restrictions by using the `x-api-key` header instead of `Authorization`. This undermines the entire API key permission model: - Keys restricted from chat/completion endpoints can still send messages and receive LLM responses - Keys restricted from admin endpoints may access admin functionality - The operator's intended access control is silently ineffective - API credit spend cannot be controlled through endpoint restrictions
IMPACT: Affected Products and Software
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2026-45339 vulnerability. Where our threat engine knows the exact affected versions, they are listed below.
| ID | VENDOR | PRODUCT | ACTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | pypi | open-webui | View |
RED HAT CSAF/VEX: Product Impact Check
SCORING: CVSS from Multiple Sources
CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardised framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and display CVSS scores from several sources for each CVE.
| SCORE | VERSION | SEVERITY | VECTOR | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | CVSS 3.x | — | Vector not published | GitHub Advisory |
| 0.0 | CVSS 4.0 | — | Vector not published | GitHub Advisory |
Patch and Remediation Guide
Solution & Remediation Advisory
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Public exploit and active exploitation status
Verified exploit intelligence
No verified public PoC, exploit repository or Metasploit module has been found for this CVE yet.
Weakness Classification and Attack Patterns (CWE & CAPEC)
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorises the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-45339 is associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-45339 weaknesses.
Attack Vector and Accessibility
Official Sources and Advisories
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