GHSA-fgmf-7rf8-m6vf: High severity go/github.com/zitadel/zitadel vulnerability
Summary
A vulnerability in ZITADEL Actions V1 allows an organization Action author to read files from the ZITADEL host filesystem through the JavaScript require() module loader. On common self-hosted deployments this can be chained to steal bootstrap credentials (including the Login Client PAT) and escalate from a single-tenant organization owner to instance administrator.
Impact
ZITADEL Actions V1 run custom JavaScript inside the ZITADEL server process at OIDC, SAML, and login-flow trigger points. The runtime enables the goja Node-compatible require() registry without restricting the source loader, so Action scripts can load host files readable by the ZITADEL process (notably .js and .json, and in some cases other file contents via error channels).
An attacker with ORGOWNER on any organization (which includes org.action.write and org.flow.write) can therefore:
Read process-readable host files, including configuration or secrets mounted into the API container (for example service-account material, projected secrets, or config carrying sensitive values). On deployments that follow ZITADEL’s documented bootstrap paths (ZITADELFIRSTINSTANCELOGINCLIENTPATPATH, ZITADELFIRSTINSTANCEMACHINEKEYPATH), recover instance-wide credentials such as the IAMLOGINCLIENT PAT or the IAMOWNER service-account key, enabling escalation to full instance control.
This collapses the expected multi-tenant isolation boundary: a tenant organization administrator is not meant to access host filesystem secrets or instance-wide credentials.
Scope note: This issue affects Actions V1. Host command execution was not identified as part of this vulnerability. Impact depends on what the ZITADEL process can read on disk and on deployment layout — documented Compose and quick-start setups that write bootstrap PATs or machine keys into the API container amplify severity.
Affected Versions
Systems running one of the following versions are affected:
4.x: 4.0.0 through 4.16.0 (including RC versions) 3.x: 3.0.0 through 3.4.12 (including RC versions)
Patches
The vulnerability has been addressed in the latest releases. The patch disables filesystem-backed module loading for Action scripts so that only the intended native zitadel/ modules can be required.
4.x: Upgrade to $\ge$ 4.16.1 3.x: Upgrade to $\ge$ 3.4.13
Workarounds
If an immediate upgrade is not possible:
Restrict who can create, update, or attach Actions — do not grant org.action.write / org.flow.write (or ORGOWNER) to untrusted administrators in multi-tenant environments. Audit existing Actions for require() of filesystem paths. Remove or relocate bootstrap credential files (login-client.pat, machine keys) so they are not readable inside the API process filesystem. Limit host filesystem exposure for the ZITADEL process (no unnecessary readable secrets beside the binary).
Questions
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, please email us at security@zitadel.com
Credits
Thanks to Dor Konis (@dkonis) and Feras Daragma (@FerasTr) from GE Vernova, and to pyuysig, for finding and reporting this vulnerability.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
go/github.com/zitadel/zitadelto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260717062331-baf6ed501b68 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ZITADELto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.4.13 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ZITADELto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 4.16.1 - Compensating control
Limit host filesystem exposure for the ZITADEL process by ensuring it has no unnecessary readable secrets beside the binary.
- Compensating control
Restrict who can create, update, or attach Actions; do not grant org.action.write, org.flow.write, or ORG_OWNER to untrusted administrators in multi-tenant environments.
- Operational
Audit existing Actions V1 for require() calls that reference filesystem paths.
- Operational
Remove or relocate bootstrap credential files, including login-client.pat and machine keys, so they are not readable inside the API process filesystem.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of access does an attacker need?
The attacker needs ORG_OWNER access on any organization. This role includes org.action.write and org.flow.write, allowing the attacker to create or modify Actions and flows that execute JavaScript in the ZITADEL server process.
Which deployments face the greatest privilege-escalation risk?
Self-hosted deployments are exposed when the ZITADEL process can read mounted configuration, projected secrets, service-account material, or other host files. Deployments using documented bootstrap paths that provide Login Client credentials to the process may allow an organization owner to steal those credentials and escalate to instance administrator.
What information could be exposed without obtaining host-level access directly?
An Action can use the enabled JavaScript require() loader to read files accessible to the ZITADEL server process, particularly .js and .json files. This can expose configuration and secrets mounted into the API container, and some additional file contents may be obtainable through error channels.