GHSA-PCGW-QCV5-H8CH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-18 20:19 – Updated: 2026-03-18 20:19Summary
The ValidateEncodedLogoutRequestPOST function in gosaml2 accepts completely unsigned SAML LogoutRequest messages even when SkipSignatureValidation is set to false. When validateElementSignature returns dsig.ErrMissingSignature, the code in decode_logout_request.go:60-62 silently falls through to process the unverified XML element instead of rejecting it. An attacker who can reach the SP's Single Logout endpoint can forge a LogoutRequest for any user, terminating their session without possessing the IdP's signing key.
Affected Version
- Library:
github.com/russellhaering/gosaml2 - Version: All versions up to and including the latest commit on
main(as of 2026-03-16) - File:
decode_logout_request.go, lines 58-69
Vulnerable Code
// decode_logout_request.go:57-69
var requestSignatureValidated bool
if !sp.SkipSignatureValidation {
el, err = sp.validateElementSignature(el)
if err == dsig.ErrMissingSignature {
// Unfortunately we just blew away our Response
el = doc.Root() // <-- BUG: falls through with unsigned element
} else if err != nil {
return nil, err
} else if el == nil {
return nil, fmt.Errorf("missing transformed logout request")
} else {
requestSignatureValidated = true
}
}
When ErrMissingSignature is returned, the code resets el to the raw document root and continues. The requestSignatureValidated variable remains false, but no error is returned. The unsigned LogoutRequest is unmarshalled and passed to ValidateDecodedLogoutRequest, which performs attribute/issuer checks but does not verify that a signature was present.
Attack Details
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack vector | Network (HTTP POST to SLO endpoint) |
| Authentication required | None |
| Payload size | ~450 bytes (unsigned XML) |
| User interaction | None |
| Complexity | Low -- only requires knowledge of the SP's SLO URL and IdP issuer |
| CVSS estimate | 7.5 (High) -- Network/Low/None/None, Availability impact |
Impact
- Arbitrary session termination: An attacker can force-logout any user by forging a
LogoutRequestwith the victim'sNameID. This is a targeted denial-of-service. - Business disruption: Critical users (executives, admins, operators) can be repeatedly logged out, disrupting access to the application during incidents or time-sensitive operations.
- Security control bypass: If session termination triggers downstream effects (e.g., revoking tokens, clearing caches), an attacker can weaponize this to force re-authentication flows and potentially intercept them.
- No cryptographic material needed: The attacker does not need the IdP's private key. The forged request contains zero cryptographic elements.
Suggested Fix
When ErrMissingSignature is returned and SkipSignatureValidation is false, the function should return an error instead of falling through:
// decode_logout_request.go -- fixed version
var requestSignatureValidated bool
if !sp.SkipSignatureValidation {
el, err = sp.validateElementSignature(el)
if err == dsig.ErrMissingSignature {
// FIXED: reject unsigned requests when signature validation is required
return nil, fmt.Errorf("logout request is not signed: %w", dsig.ErrMissingSignature)
} else if err != nil {
return nil, err
} else if el == nil {
return nil, fmt.Errorf("missing transformed logout request")
} else {
requestSignatureValidated = true
}
}
This ensures that unsigned LogoutRequest messages are rejected when SkipSignatureValidation is false, matching the behavior that operators expect when they configure signature enforcement.
Attached lab f1_unsigned_logout.zip
{
"affected": [
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 0.10.0"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/russellhaering/gosaml2"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.11.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-347"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-18T20:19:24Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "## Summary\n\nThe `ValidateEncodedLogoutRequestPOST` function in gosaml2 accepts completely unsigned SAML `LogoutRequest` messages even when `SkipSignatureValidation` is set to `false`. When `validateElementSignature` returns `dsig.ErrMissingSignature`, the code in `decode_logout_request.go:60-62` silently falls through to process the unverified XML element instead of rejecting it. An attacker who can reach the SP\u0027s Single Logout endpoint can forge a `LogoutRequest` for any user, terminating their session without possessing the IdP\u0027s signing key.\n\n## Affected Version\n\n- **Library**: `github.com/russellhaering/gosaml2`\n- **Version**: All versions up to and including the latest commit on `main` (as of 2026-03-16)\n- **File**: `decode_logout_request.go`, lines 58-69\n\n## Vulnerable Code\n\n```go\n// decode_logout_request.go:57-69\nvar requestSignatureValidated bool\nif !sp.SkipSignatureValidation {\n el, err = sp.validateElementSignature(el)\n if err == dsig.ErrMissingSignature {\n // Unfortunately we just blew away our Response\n el = doc.Root() // \u003c-- BUG: falls through with unsigned element\n } else if err != nil {\n return nil, err\n } else if el == nil {\n return nil, fmt.Errorf(\"missing transformed logout request\")\n } else {\n requestSignatureValidated = true\n }\n}\n```\n\nWhen `ErrMissingSignature` is returned, the code resets `el` to the raw document root and continues. The `requestSignatureValidated` variable remains `false`, but no error is returned. The unsigned `LogoutRequest` is unmarshalled and passed to `ValidateDecodedLogoutRequest`, which performs attribute/issuer checks but does **not** verify that a signature was present.\n\n## Attack Details\n\n| Property | Value |\n|---|---|\n| **Attack vector** | Network (HTTP POST to SLO endpoint) |\n| **Authentication required** | None |\n| **Payload size** | ~450 bytes (unsigned XML) |\n| **User interaction** | None |\n| **Complexity** | Low -- only requires knowledge of the SP\u0027s SLO URL and IdP issuer |\n| **CVSS estimate** | 7.5 (High) -- Network/Low/None/None, Availability impact |\n\n## Impact\n\n- **Arbitrary session termination**: An attacker can force-logout any user by forging a `LogoutRequest` with the victim\u0027s `NameID`. This is a targeted denial-of-service.\n- **Business disruption**: Critical users (executives, admins, operators) can be repeatedly logged out, disrupting access to the application during incidents or time-sensitive operations.\n- **Security control bypass**: If session termination triggers downstream effects (e.g., revoking tokens, clearing caches), an attacker can weaponize this to force re-authentication flows and potentially intercept them.\n- **No cryptographic material needed**: The attacker does not need the IdP\u0027s private key. The forged request contains zero cryptographic elements.\n\n## Suggested Fix\n\nWhen `ErrMissingSignature` is returned and `SkipSignatureValidation` is `false`, the function should return an error instead of falling through:\n\n```go\n// decode_logout_request.go -- fixed version\nvar requestSignatureValidated bool\nif !sp.SkipSignatureValidation {\n el, err = sp.validateElementSignature(el)\n if err == dsig.ErrMissingSignature {\n // FIXED: reject unsigned requests when signature validation is required\n return nil, fmt.Errorf(\"logout request is not signed: %w\", dsig.ErrMissingSignature)\n } else if err != nil {\n return nil, err\n } else if el == nil {\n return nil, fmt.Errorf(\"missing transformed logout request\")\n } else {\n requestSignatureValidated = true\n }\n}\n```\n\nThis ensures that unsigned `LogoutRequest` messages are rejected when `SkipSignatureValidation` is `false`, matching the behavior that operators expect when they configure signature enforcement.\n\nAttached lab \n[f1_unsigned_logout.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/26038319/f1_unsigned_logout.zip)",
"id": "GHSA-pcgw-qcv5-h8ch",
"modified": "2026-03-18T20:19:24Z",
"published": "2026-03-18T20:19:24Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/russellhaering/gosaml2/security/advisories/GHSA-pcgw-qcv5-h8ch"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/russellhaering/gosaml2"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Unsigned SAML LogoutRequest Acceptance in gosaml2"
}
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.