Authlib: Cross-site request forging when using cache
Summary
There is no CSRF protection on the cache feature on most integrations clients.
Details
In authlib.integrations.starlette_client.OAuth, no CSRF protection is set up when using the cache parameter. When not using the cache parameter, the use of SessionMiddleware ties the client to the auth state, preventing CSRF attacks. With the cache, there is no such mechanism. Other integratons have the same issue, it's not just starlette.
The state parameter is taken from the callback URL and the state is fetched from the cache without checking that it is the same client calling the redirect endpoint as was the one that initiated the auth flow.
This issue is documented in RFC 6749 section 10.12: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6749#section-10.12
PoC
- Set up a Starlette integration with a cache
- The attacker starts the auth flow up until before the callback URL is followed.
- The attacked sends the redirect URL to the victim
- The victim now completes the authorisation
Impact
This impacts all users that use the cache to store auth state.
All users will be vulnerable to CSRF attacks and may have an attacker's account tied to their own.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | authlib | < 1.6.11 | 1.6.11 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-352- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
authlib- Disclosed
- 16.04.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 15:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-25 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-jj8c-mmj3-mmgv - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: authlib
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 12
- First → latest
- 06.2024 06.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 1
- High 6
- Medium 5
Disclosures per year
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 3
- 2026: 8
-
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