CVE-2026-71416: CWE-287: Improper Authentication in headroomlabs-ai headroom
Headroom compresses data before the data reaches a large language model. Prior to version 0.35.0, the Headroom WebSocket server does not validate the `Origin` header of incoming client WebSocket requests before forwarding the request to the upstream server, allowing malicious WebSocket clients to perform arbitrary LLM requests without authentication. This can be exploited by a malicious WebSocket client executed in a traditional or headless browser such as lightpanda, if the browser has access to the Headroom proxy and the OpenAI API key is stored in the `OPENAI_API_KEY` environment variable. Version 0.35.0 fixes the issue.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability arises because the Headroom WebSocket server fails to validate the Origin header on incoming WebSocket requests before forwarding them upstream. This improper authentication (CWE-287) allows a malicious WebSocket client, potentially running in a traditional or headless browser, to execute arbitrary LLM requests without proper authentication. Exploitation requires access to the Headroom proxy and the presence of the OpenAI API key in the environment variable OPENAI_API_KEY. The issue is resolved in headroom version 0.35.0.
Potential Impact
An attacker with access to the Headroom proxy and the OpenAI API key environment variable can bypass authentication and perform arbitrary requests to the large language model service. This can lead to unauthorized data access, data manipulation, and potential service disruption. The CVSS score is 8.8 (high severity), indicating a significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade headroom to version 0.35.0 or later, where the Origin header validation is implemented to prevent unauthorized WebSocket requests. No other mitigation is required as the issue is fixed in this version.
CVE-2026-71416: CWE-287: Improper Authentication in headroomlabs-ai headroom
Description
Headroom compresses data before the data reaches a large language model. Prior to version 0.35.0, the Headroom WebSocket server does not validate the `Origin` header of incoming client WebSocket requests before forwarding the request to the upstream server, allowing malicious WebSocket clients to perform arbitrary LLM requests without authentication. This can be exploited by a malicious WebSocket client executed in a traditional or headless browser such as lightpanda, if the browser has access to the Headroom proxy and the OpenAI API key is stored in the `OPENAI_API_KEY` environment variable. Version 0.35.0 fixes the issue.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.8high
Affected software
headroomlabs-ai
headroom
pkg:github/headroomlabs-ai/headroomRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability arises because the Headroom WebSocket server fails to validate the Origin header on incoming WebSocket requests before forwarding them upstream. This improper authentication (CWE-287) allows a malicious WebSocket client, potentially running in a traditional or headless browser, to execute arbitrary LLM requests without proper authentication. Exploitation requires access to the Headroom proxy and the presence of the OpenAI API key in the environment variable OPENAI_API_KEY. The issue is resolved in headroom version 0.35.0.
Potential Impact
An attacker with access to the Headroom proxy and the OpenAI API key environment variable can bypass authentication and perform arbitrary requests to the large language model service. This can lead to unauthorized data access, data manipulation, and potential service disruption. The CVSS score is 8.8 (high severity), indicating a significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade headroom to version 0.35.0 or later, where the Origin header validation is implemented to prevent unauthorized WebSocket requests. No other mitigation is required as the issue is fixed in this version.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-08-06T16:28:51.181Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6aa4067191cc7f38483b3d7b
Added to database: 09/11/2026, 13:47:29 UTC
Last enriched: 09/11/2026, 14:01:52 UTC
Last updated: 09/11/2026, 22:23:26 UTC
Views: 8
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