CVE-2021-21411: Incorrect authorization in OAuth2-Proxy

Published Mar 26, 2021
·
Updated

OAuth2-Proxy is an open source reverse proxy that provides authentication with Google, Github or other providers. The --gitlab-group flag for group-based authorization in the GitLab provider stopped working in the v7.0.0 release. Regardless of the flag settings, authorization wasn't restricted. Additionally, any authenticated users had whichever groups were set in --gitlab-group added to the new X-Forwarded-Groups header to the upstream application. While adding GitLab project based authorization support in #630, a bug was introduced where the user session's groups field was populated with the --gitlab-group config entries instead of pulling the individual user's group membership from the GitLab Userinfo endpoint. When the session groups where compared against the allowed groups for authorization, they matched improperly (since both lists were populated with the same data) so authorization was allowed. This impacts GitLab Provider users who relies on group membership for authorization restrictions. Any authenticated users in your GitLab environment can access your applications regardless of --gitlab-group membership restrictions. This is patched in v7.1.0. There is no workaround for the Group membership bug. But --gitlab-project can be set to use Project membership as the authorization checks instead of groups; it is not broken.

Other sources

The --gitlab-group flag for group-based authorization in the GitLab provider stopped working in the v7.0.0 release.

Regardless of the flag settings, authorization wasn't restricted. Additionally, any authenticated users had whichever groups were set in --gitlab-group added to the new X-Forwarded-Groups header to the upstream application.

While adding GitLab project based authorization support in #630, a bug was introduced where the user session's groups field was populated with the --gitlab-group config entries instead of pulling the individual user's group membership from the GitLab Userinfo endpoint. When the session groups where compared against the allowed groups for authorization, they matched improperly (since both lists were populated with the same data) so authorization was allowed.

Impact This impacts GitLab Provider users who relies on group membership for authorization restrictions. Any authenticated users in your GitLab environment can access your applications regardless of --gitlab-group membership restrictions.

Patches This is patched in v7.1.0

Workarounds There is no workaround for the Group membership bug. But --gitlab-project can be set to use Project membership as the authorization checks instead of groups; it is not broken.

GitHub

Affected Software

2 affected componentsFixes available
Oauth2 Proxy Project Oauth2 Proxy>=7.0.0<7.1.0
go/github.com/oauth2-proxy/oauth2-proxy/v7<7.1.0
7.1.0

Event History

Mar 26, 2021
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:55 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:55 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·09:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Jul 30, 2025
Advisory Published
via GitHub·04:21 PM
Data Sourced
via GitHub·04:21 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2021-21411?

CVE-2021-21411 has been assessed as a moderate severity vulnerability affecting the OAuth2-Proxy software.

2

How do I fix CVE-2021-21411?

To remediate CVE-2021-21411, upgrade OAuth2-Proxy to version 7.1.0 or later.

3

What specific functionality is broken due to CVE-2021-21411?

CVE-2021-21411 causes the `--gitlab-group` flag for group-based authorization in the GitLab provider to stop working properly.

4

Which versions of OAuth2-Proxy are affected by CVE-2021-21411?

CVE-2021-21411 affects OAuth2-Proxy versions from 7.0.0 up to but not including 7.1.0.

5

Who is impacted by CVE-2021-21411?

Users utilizing the GitLab provider in OAuth2-Proxy versions 7.0.0 to 7.1.0 are impacted by CVE-2021-21411.

Contact

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