# CVE-2018-15598: Traefik Missing Authentication

> Attackers can read sensitive configuration and secrets if the Traefik API is exposed without authentication.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 21 Aug 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2cjc-rgmp-x649, GO-2023-1950

## What is CVE-2018-15598?

CVE-2018-15598 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Traefik Traefik, published on 21 Aug 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Containous Traefik 1.6.x before 1.6.6, when --api is used, exposes the configuration and secret if authentication is missing and the API's port is publicly reachable.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-15598?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/traefik/traefik. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/traefik/traefik` | Go | From 1.6.0 | 1.6.6 |
| `github.com/traefik/traefik` | Go | From 1.6.0 | 1.6.6 |
| `github.com/traefik/traefik` | Go | From 1.6.0 | 1.6.6 |

Products: Traefik Traefik.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-15598?

Upgrade github.com/traefik/traefik to 1.6.6 or later.

## Is CVE-2018-15598 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-15598 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Traefik Traefik

- [CVE-2024-45410](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-45410/): HTTP client can remove the X-Forwarded headers in Traefik (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-88877](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-88877/): Traefik v3.7.0 Authentication Bypass via from-to-www-redirect (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-85595](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-85595/): Traefik before v2.11.55 and v3.0.0 through v3.7.10 Authentication Bypass via digestAuth (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-88007](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-88007/): Traefik HTTP/3 Backend NTLM Connection Reuse (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2026-88009](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-88009/): Traefik: Rootless HTTP/1 request-target routes as "/" but is forwarded verbatim, bypassing path-scoped routing, middleware guards and access logging (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-15598 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-15598 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Traefik Traefik, published on 21 Aug 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-15598 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/traefik/traefik (Go): affected from 1.6.0; fixed in 1.6.6
- github.com/traefik/traefik (Go): affected from 1.6.0; fixed in 1.6.6
- github.com/traefik/traefik (Go): affected from 1.6.0; fixed in 1.6.6

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15598/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15598/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-15598
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-15598
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-15598

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15598/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.