GHSA-h53f-rm2w-w7rg - Echo: X-Real-IP extractor trusts the header value instead of the sending peer
## Impact
In Echo v5, `ExtractIPFromRealIPHeader` checked whether the address supplied in `X-Real-IP` belonged to a trusted range instead of checking the address of the direct network peer. An untrusted client could therefore supply a loopback or private address and have it returned by `c.RealIP()` with the extractor's default trust options.
Applications using this extractor for IP allowlists, IP-based rate limiting, audit logs or forwarding headers could accept a spoofed client identity. Exploitation requires that the attacker can reach Echo directly or that an intervening proxy passes through the attacker's `X-Real-IP` value. Applications using the default direct IP extractor are unaffected. Echo v4 is unaffected by this v5 regression.
## Affected versions and patch
All v5 releases from v5.0.0 through v5.4.0 are affected. Upgrade to [v5.4.1](https://github.com/labstack/echo/releases/tag/v5.4.1).
The patch validates the direct peer before accepting a syntactically valid `X-Real-IP` value, restoring the v4 trust model. [Fix commit](https://github.com/labstack/echo/commit/1855061e572ae9dab727c811d8382f266bfbaaec).
## Workarounds
Use `ExtractIPDirect` until upgrading, or ensure that only trusted proxies can reach Echo and that they replace client-supplied forwarding headers. Configure trusted proxy ranges narrowly for the deployment.
## Credits
Reported and patched by @rm-Umar. @Duodum independently reported the same issue in GHSA-c3r7-8j36-7mx8, which is tracked as a duplicate of this advisory.
MEDIUM
Severity & confidence
Source severitymedium
Platform severitymedium
Confidencemedium
Exploitationunknown
CVSS5.3
Affected
Vendorsgithub
Productsgithub.com/labstack/echo/v5
Reporting sources (1)
GitHub Security Advisories
Timeline & provenance
Published2026-10-23T20:50:25
Last updated2026-10-27T15:37:20
Ingested2026-10-23T20:56:58
FreshnessNEAR-REAL-TIME
Threat typeadvisory
Recommended action
Review the advisory and upgrade affected packages to the first patched version.
Next steps
- Identify affected systems in your environment.
- Apply the vendor patch or mitigation guidance.
- Review logs for indicators described in the advisory.
- Follow the affected vendor/product to track updates.
Confidence explanation
Reported by a single or secondary source; treat as indicative, verify before acting.
Source type: vendor ยท Original: GitHub Security Advisories