GHSA-3c93-f73f-qc9h
social-auth-core: VK App backend accepts unsigned callback data when auth_key is missing
Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | social-auth-core | < 5.0.0 | 5.0.0 |
Details
As written in the advisory (Markdown source, shown as plain text).
### Impact
The `vk-app` backend accepted VK application callback data without verifying the callback signature when the `auth_key` parameter was omitted.
Applications using this backend could treat unsigned attacker-controlled data as a verified VK identity. An attacker could choose callback fields such as `viewer_id`, `access_token`, `api_id`, and `api_result`, potentially allowing authentication as an arbitrary VK user ID.
The issue affects only applications using the `vk-app` backend.
### Patches
The issue has been fixed by requiring `auth_key` to be present and valid before callback data is trusted.
Users should upgrade to a patched version.
Fix:
* https://github.com/python-social-auth/social-core/pull/1811
### Workarounds
Applications that cannot upgrade immediately should disable the `vk-app` backend by removing `social_core.backends.vk.VKAppOAuth2` from `SOCIAL_AUTH_AUTHENTICATION_BACKENDS`.
There is no complete workaround while continuing to use the vulnerable backend.
### Credits
Reported by @lalalala5678 through GitHub private vulnerability reporting.
References
External links from the advisory. They lead to third-party sites.
- https://github.com/python-social-auth/social-core/security/advisories/GHSA-3c93-f73f-qc9h
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-57178
- https://github.com/python-social-auth/social-core/pull/1811
- https://github.com/python-social-auth/social-core/commit/1bfacdd0379e5eb46e169a99ab648b835e9bb6a2
- https://github.com/python-social-auth/social-core
- https://github.com/python-social-auth/social-core/releases/tag/5.0.0