GHSA-389g-gv7q-r4x8: Low severity npm/fastify vulnerability
Impact
Fastify lowercases header names in a headers schema before compilation, because Node.js stores request header names in lowercase. This normalization does not reach the header names held in a propertyNames subschema's enum and const. A header-name deny-list written in the canonical header case, such as propertyNames: { not: { enum: ['X-Debug-Override'] } }, therefore never matches the lowercased request headers, and the forbidden header reaches the handler. Any application that uses a propertyNames deny-list or allow-list to constrain request header names does not get the constraint it expects. The same rule written in lowercase works, and the not: { required: [...] } form is unaffected, so this is a gap in the built-in normalization rather than a wrong schema. This is an incomplete fix of CVE-2026-84428 (GHSA-9q9j-q6p8-xq58), whose normalization covered header names used as property keys but not those used as values inside propertyNames.
Patches
Users should upgrade to fastify 5.12.6 or later, which lowercases header names held in enum and const inside a propertyNames subschema so they match the lowercased request headers. Header-name constraints that cannot be normalized automatically, regular expressions (propertyNames pattern and patternProperties keys) and a $ref used inside propertyNames, are documented and, for the $ref case, warned at startup (FSTSEC003). Author those to match the lowercased request headers.
Workarounds
Write the propertyNames header-name constraint in lowercase (for example enum: ['x-debug-override']), or enforce the header check in an onRequest or preValidation hook instead of the schema.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/fastifyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.12.6 - Upgrade
Upgrade
fastifyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.12.6 - Configuration
Write propertyNames header-name constraints in lowercase, including enum and const values; for example, use enum: ['x-debug-override'].
Fastify headers schema propertyNames header-name constraint = lowercase
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Fastify applications are exposed to this issue?
Applications are affected if they use a headers schema with a propertyNames allow-list or deny-list whose enum or const values use canonical or mixed-case header names. Header names represented as schema property keys are not the affected case, and not: { required: [...] } rules are unaffected.
What does an attacker need to do to bypass the header constraint?
An attacker must send a header that the application intends to deny or exclude through a propertyNames enum or const rule written with non-lowercase header names. Because Node.js supplies request header names in lowercase, the comparison does not match and the header reaches the handler.
Is there a configuration workaround if upgrading is not immediately possible?
Write all header-name values used in propertyNames enum and const constraints in lowercase. Alternatively, use the unaffected not: { required: [...] } form where appropriate.
How can I determine whether my schemas are affected?
Review headers schemas for propertyNames subschemas containing enum or const values used to allow or deny header names. Any such header-name values that are not lowercase may fail to constrain the lowercase request headers seen by Fastify.
What version contains the fix?
Upgrade Fastify to version 5.12.6 or later. The fix lowercases header names held in enum and const within propertyNames subschemas.