CVE-2022-46172 authentik allows existing authenticated users to create arbitrary accounts
Authenticated users can create arbitrary accounts via default flows, potentially bypassing account creation policies and affecting SSO infrastructure.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2022-46172?
CVE-2022-46172 is a medium-severity vulnerability in goauthentik authentik, published on 28 Dec 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
authentik is an open-source Identity provider focused on flexibility and versatility. In versions prior to 2022.10.4, and 2022.11.4, any authenticated user can create an arbitrary number of accounts through the default flows. This would circumvent any policy in a situation where it is undesirable for users to create new accounts by themselves. This may also affect other applications as these new basic accounts would exist throughout the SSO infrastructure. By default the newly created accounts cannot be logged into as no password reset exists by default. However password resets are likely to be enabled by most installations. This vulnerability pertains to the user context used in the default-user-settings-flow, /api/v3/flows/instances/default-user-settings-flow/execute/. This issue has been fixed in versions 2022.10.4 and 2022.11.4.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-46172?
1 open source package ship an affected version, including authentik. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
authentik Bitnami | From 2022.10.0 | 2022.10.4, 2022.11.4 |
Products include Goauthentik Authentik.
How do I fix CVE-2022-46172?
Upgrade authentik to a fixed version for your release line: 2022.10.4 or 2022.11.4.
Is CVE-2022-46172 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-46172 exists.
Other vulnerabilities in goauthentik authentik
- CVE-2026-49448 authentik: SourceStage bypass via empty POST
- CVE-2023-46249 authentik potential installation takeover when default admin user is deleted
- CVE-2022-23555 authentik vulnerable to Improper Authentication via invitation URL token reuse
- CVE-2026-42849 authentik: Reflected XSS in SFE AutosubmitStage allows IDP account takeover
- CVE-2026-25227 authentik affected by Remote Code Execution via Context Key Injection in PropertyMapping Test Endpoint
Sources
Also known as BIT-authentik-2022-46172, GHSA-hv8r-6w7p-mpc5.