Vulnerabilities in pkg:golang/github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6m8w-jc87-6cr7
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-46569 is a HIGH opa server data api http vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Github.com/open policy agent/opa/v1/server libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves opa server data api http path injection of rego. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.4.0.

1 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:golang/github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server

1 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:golang/github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-6m8w-jc87-6cr7 CVE-2025-46569 HIGH OPA server Data API HTTP path injection of Rego

CVE-2025-46569 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-46569
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6m8w-jc87-6cr7
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Github.com/open policy agent/opa/v1/server
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2025-46569

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/open policy agent/opa/v1/server dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server fixed: 1.4.0
Upgrade github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server to 1.4.0
github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server fixed: 1.4.0
Upgrade github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server to 1.4.0
github.com/open-policy-agent/opa fixed: 1.4.0
Upgrade github.com/open-policy-agent/opa to 1.4.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

inspect dependencies for github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2025-46569, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/open policy agent/opa/v1/server:

inspect dependencies for github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/open policy agent/opa/v1/server in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.4.0), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In Github.com/open policy agent/opa/v1/server, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Impact When run as a server, OPA exposes an HTTP[ Data API](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/rest-api/#data-api) for reading and writing documents. Requesting a virtual document through the Data API entails policy evaluation, where a Rego query containing a single data document [reference](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/policy-language/#references) is constructed from the requested path. This query is then used for policy evaluation. A HTTP request path can be crafted in a way that injects Rego code into the constructed query. The evaluation result cannot be made to return any other data than what is generated by the requested path, but this path can be misdirected, and the injected Rego code can be crafted to make the query succeed or fail; opening up for oracle attacks or, given the right circumstances, erroneous policy decision results. Furthermore, the injected code can be crafted to be computationally expensive, resulting in a Denial Of Service (DoS) attack. **Users are only impacted if all of the following apply:** * OPA is deployed as a standalone server (rather than being used as a Go library) * The OPA server is exposed outside of the local host in an untrusted environment. * The configured [authorization policy](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/security/#authentication-and-authorization) does not do exact matching of the `input.path` attribute when deciding if the request should be allowed. **or, if all of the following apply:** * OPA is deployed as a standalone server. * The service connecting to OPA allows 3rd parties to insert unsanitised text into the path of the HTTP request to OPA’s Data API. **Note:** With **no** Authorization Policy configured for restricting API access (the default configuration), the RESTful Data API provides access for managing Rego policies; and the RESTful Query API facilitates advanced queries. Full access to these APIs provides both simpler, and broader access than what the security issue describes here can facilitate. As such, OPA servers exposed to a network are **not** considered affected by the attack described here if they are knowingly not restricting access through an Authorization Policy. ### Patches Fixed in OPA v1.4.0. ### Workarounds #### Don’t publicly expose OPA’s RESTful APIs #### Unless necessary for production reasons, network access to OPA’s RESTful APIs should be limited to `localhost` and/or trusted networks. Since OPA v1.0, unless otherwise configured, the server listener defaults to `localhost`. #### Enable Authentication to Only Allow Access to Trusted Clients #### A configured [authentication](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/security/#authentication-and-authorization) scheme is a requirement when OPA is exposed in an untrusted environment. While requiring authentication alone doesn’t mitigate this attack, it effectively reduces the scope from untrusted clients to trusted clients. #### Perform Path Validation Using OPA’s Authorization Policy Functionality #### OPA can be configured to use an [Authorization Policy](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/security/#authentication-and-authorization) to validate all incoming requests. By authoring the Authorization Policy to only accept paths corresponding to expected Rego package references, this attack can be fully mitigated. The HTTP path in a Data API request is of the format `/v1/data/{path:.+}` (`/v0/data/{path:.+}`, for the v0 Data API), where `data/{path:.+}` directly corresponds to a reference to a virtual document, and a prefix of `{path:.+}` corresponds to a Rego `package` declaration. E.g. the HTTP path `v1/data/do/re/mi` corresponds to the data reference `data.do.re.mi`, where `do.re` is the package and `mi` is the rule in the following Rego module: ```rego package do.re mi if { ... } ``` Unless otherwise [configured](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/configuration/#miscellaneous), OPA will use the rule at `data.system.authz.allow` as Authorization Policy. Authorization is enabled by starting OPA with the `--authorization=basic` flag, and the Authorization policy must be made available to the OPA runtime either through a bundle (via the `--bundle` flag or through [discovery](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/management-discovery/)) or as an individual module via the command-line. A trivial Authorization Policy example: ```rego package system.authz allowed_paths := [ ["v1", "data", "policy1", "allow"], ["v1", "data", "policy2", "allow"], ... ] allow if { input.path in allowed_paths } ``` **Note:** configuring an Authorization Policy in OPA isn't the only way to protect against malicious request paths. Path validation and sanitisation can also be performed by connecting clients and 3rd party intermediaries, such as API gateways, reverse proxies, etc.

CVE-2025-46569 Affected Github.com/open policy agent/opa/v1/server Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.4.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server
Go
< 1.4.0
1.4.0
github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server
Go
< 1.4.0
1.4.0
github.com/open-policy-agent/opa
Go
< 1.4.0
1.4.0

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-46569?
CVE-2025-46569 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/open policy agent/opa/v1/server involving OPA server Data API HTTP path injection of Rego under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Github.com/open policy agent/opa/v1/server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.4.0 across affected packages: github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server, github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server, github.com/open-policy-agent/opa.
What version fixes CVE-2025-46569?
Upgrading to 1.4.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server affected?
Yes, github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server is affected in releases prior to 1.4.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.4.0 or later.
Is github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server affected?
Yes, github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server is affected in releases prior to 1.4.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.4.0 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-46569?
CVE-2025-46569 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2025-46569?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-6m8w-jc87-6cr7",
  "modified" : "2025-05-05T22:02:31Z",
  "published" : "2025-05-01T17:02:58Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-46569" ],
  "summary" : "OPA server Data API HTTP path injection of Rego",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nWhen run as a server, OPA exposes an HTTP[ Data API](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/rest-api/#data-api) for reading and writing documents. Requesting a virtual document through the Data API entails policy evaluation, where a Rego query containing a single data document [reference](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/policy-language/#references) is constructed from the requested path. This query is then used for policy evaluation.\n\nA HTTP request path can be crafted in a way that injects Rego code into the constructed query. The evaluation result cannot be made to return any other data than what is generated by the requested path, but this path can be misdirected, and the injected Rego code can be crafted to make the query succeed or fail; opening up for oracle attacks or, given the right circumstances, erroneous policy decision results. Furthermore, the injected code can be crafted to be computationally expensive, resulting in a Denial Of Service (DoS) attack.\n\n**Users are only impacted if all of the following apply:**\n\n* OPA is deployed as a standalone server (rather than being used as a Go library)\n* The OPA server is exposed outside of the local host in an untrusted environment.\n* The configured [authorization policy](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/security/#authentication-and-authorization) does not do exact matching of the `input.path` attribute when deciding if the request should be allowed.\n\n**or, if all of the following apply:**\n\n* OPA is deployed as a standalone server.\n* The service connecting to OPA allows 3rd parties to insert unsanitised text into the path of the HTTP request to OPA’s Data API.\n\n**Note:** With **no** Authorization Policy configured for restricting API access (the default configuration), the RESTful Data API provides access for managing Rego policies; and the RESTful Query API facilitates advanced queries. Full access to these APIs provides both simpler, and broader access than what the security issue describes here can facilitate. As such, OPA servers exposed to a network are **not** considered affected by the attack described here if they are knowingly not restricting access through an Authorization Policy.\n\n### Patches\n\nFixed in OPA v1.4.0.\n\n### Workarounds\n\n#### Don’t publicly expose OPA’s RESTful APIs ####\n\nUnless necessary for production reasons, network access to OPA’s RESTful APIs should be limited to `localhost` and/or trusted networks. \nSince OPA v1.0, unless otherwise configured, the server listener defaults to `localhost`.\n\n#### Enable Authentication to Only Allow Access to Trusted Clients ####\n\nA configured [authentication](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/security/#authentication-and-authorization) scheme is a requirement when OPA is exposed in an untrusted environment. While requiring authentication alone doesn’t mitigate this attack, it effectively reduces the scope from untrusted clients to trusted clients.\n\n#### Perform Path Validation Using OPA’s Authorization Policy Functionality ####\n\nOPA can be configured to use an [Authorization Policy](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/security/#authentication-and-authorization) to validate all incoming requests.\nBy authoring the Authorization Policy to only accept paths corresponding to expected Rego package references, this attack can be fully mitigated.\n\nThe HTTP path in a Data API request is of the format `/v1/data/{path:.+}` (`/v0/data/{path:.+}`, for the v0 Data API), where `data/{path:.+}` directly corresponds to a reference to a virtual document, and a prefix of `{path:.+}` corresponds to a Rego `package` declaration. \nE.g. the HTTP path `v1/data/do/re/mi` corresponds to the data reference `data.do.re.mi`, where `do.re` is the package and `mi` is the rule in the following Rego module:\n\n```rego\npackage do.re\n\nmi if {\n\t...\n}\n```\n\nUnless otherwise [configured](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/configuration/#miscellaneous), OPA will use the rule at `data.system.authz.allow` as Authorization Policy. Authorization is enabled by starting OPA with the `--authorization=basic` flag, and the Authorization policy must be made available to the OPA runtime either through a bundle (via the `--bundle` flag or through [discovery](https://www.openpolicyagent.org/docs/latest/management-discovery/)) or as an individual module via the command-line.\n\nA trivial Authorization Policy example:\n\n```rego\npackage system.authz\n\nallowed_paths := [\n\t[\"v1\", \"data\", \"policy1\", \"allow\"],\n\t[\"v1\", \"data\", \"policy2\", \"allow\"],\n\t...\n]\n\nallow if {\n\tinput.path in allowed_paths\n}\n```\n\n**Note:** configuring an Authorization Policy in OPA isn't the only way to protect against malicious request paths. Path validation and sanitisation can also be performed by connecting clients and 3rd party intermediaries, such as API gateways, reverse proxies, etc.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/v1/server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.4.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.4.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/open-policy-agent/opa"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.4.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/security/advisories/GHSA-6m8w-jc87-6cr7"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-46569"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/commit/ad2063247a14711882f18c387a511fc8094aa79c"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/open-policy-agent/opa"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2025-3660"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-770", "CWE-78", "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-05-01T17:02:58Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-05-01T20:15:37Z"
  }
}