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ZITADEL Vulnerable to Account Takeover via Malicious Forwarded Header Injection

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Oct 29, 2025 in zitadel/zitadel • Updated Oct 29, 2025

Package

gomod github.com/zitadel/zitadel/v2 (Go)

Affected versions

< 2.71.18

Patched versions

2.71.18

Description

Impact

A potential vulnerability exists in ZITADEL's password reset mechanism. ZITADEL utilizes the Forwarded or X-Forwarded-Host header from incoming requests to construct the URL for the password reset confirmation link. This link, containing a secret code, is then emailed to the user.

If an attacker can manipulate these headers (e.g., via host header injection), they could cause ZITADEL to generate a password reset link pointing to a malicious domain controlled by the attacker. If the user clicks this manipulated link in the email, the secret reset code embedded in the URL can be captured by the attacker. This captured code could then be used to reset the user's password and gain unauthorized access to their account.

It's important to note that this specific attack vector is mitigated for accounts that have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or Passwordless authentication enabled.

Affected Versions

Systems running one of the following versions:

  • 4.x: 4.0.0 to 4.5.0 (including RC versions)
  • 3.x: 3.0.0 to 3.4.2 (including RC versions)
  • 2.x: v2.0.0 to 2.71.17

Patches

Patched version ensure proper validation of the headers:

4.x: Upgrade to >=4.6.0
3.x: Update to >=3.4.3
2.x: Update to >=2.71.18

Workarounds

The recommended solution is to update ZITADEL to a patched version.

A ZITADEL fronting proxy can be configured to delete all Forwarded and X-Forwarded-Host header values before sending requests to ZITADEL self-hosted environments.

Questions

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, please email us at [email protected]

Credits

Thanks to Amit Laish – GE Vernova for finding and reporting the vulnerability.

References

@livio-a livio-a published to zitadel/zitadel Oct 29, 2025
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Oct 29, 2025
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Oct 29, 2025
Reviewed Oct 29, 2025
Last updated Oct 29, 2025

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(24th percentile)

Weaknesses

URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect')

A web application accepts a user-controlled input that specifies a link to an external site, and uses that link in a Redirect. This simplifies phishing attacks. Learn more on MITRE.

Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password

The product contains a mechanism for users to recover or change their passwords without knowing the original password, but the mechanism is weak. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2025-64101

GHSA ID

GHSA-mwmh-7px9-4c23

Source code

Credits

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