CVE-2026-63041: Apache APISIX authorization bypass in attach-consumer-label

Executive brief

Apache APISIX is an API gateway used to manage, route, and protect API traffic in cloud environments. A vulnerability in the attach-consumer-label plugin fails to properly validate user-supplied headers, allowing attackers to bypass authorization checks or escalate privileges. An attacker could exploit this to gain unauthorized access to protected APIs or perform actions as a different user without proper credentials.

Technical details

The vulnerability is a reliance on untrusted inputs in a security decision (CWE-345) within Apache APISIX's attach-consumer-label plugin. The plugin fails to sanitize client-supplied consumer-label headers, allowing an attacker to inject crafted values that bypass authorization logic or escalate privileges. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication and affects APISIX versions 3.11.0 through 3.17.0. An attacker can perform authorization bypass or privilege escalation by sending specially crafted header values. The issue is patched in version 3.18.0.

Affected products

• Apache APISIX 3.11.0 through 3.17.0

Timeline

• 2026-08-26: disclosed

References

• https://lists.apache.org/thread/yg9tgn699rz7kyglw82m1775do8frjr4
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/26/11