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Cache middleware default key generator ignores query string, causing response mix-up across distinct query parameters

Moderate
ReneWerner87 published GHSA-35hp-hqmv-8qg8 Apr 25, 2026

Package

gomod github.com/gofiber/fiber/v3 (Go)

Affected versions

<=3.1.0

Patched versions

>3.1.0

Description

Summary

Fiber cache middleware's default key generator uses only c.Path() and does not include the query string.
As a result, requests like /?id=1 and /?id=2 can map to the same cache key and share the same cached response.

This can cause response mix-up (cache poisoning-like behavior) for endpoints where response content depends on query parameters.

Details

Default configuration in cache middleware:

  • KeyGenerator: func(c fiber.Ctx) string { return utils.CopyString(c.Path()) }

References:

The existing test demonstrates that when handler output depends on query parameter id, a second request with a different query still returns the first cached response (cache hit), confirming query is not part of the default cache key.

PoC

Minimal PoC:

package main

import (
    "log"

    "github.com/gofiber/fiber/v3"
    "github.com/gofiber/fiber/v3/middleware/cache"
)

func main() {
    app := fiber.New()
    app.Use(cache.New()) // default config

    app.Get("/", func(c fiber.Ctx) error {
        return c.SendString(c.Query("id", "1"))
    })

    log.Fatal(app.Listen(":3000"))
}

Reproduction:

  1. GET /?id=1
    • Cache miss
    • Response body: 1
  2. GET /?id=2
    • Cache hit
    • Response body: 1 (expected 2)

Local verification command used:

go test ./middleware/cache -run Test_Cache_WithNoCacheRequestDirective -count=1

Observed result: test passes, confirming this is current behavior.

Impact

  • Responses that should vary by query parameters can be mixed between requests.
  • In real deployments, this may leak or corrupt user/tenant-specific content if query parameters influence context or data selection.
  • This is deployment-dependent but security-relevant, and not safe-by-default for query-variant responses.

Suggested remediation

  • Change default cache key generation to include path + normalized query string (or canonicalized original URL).
  • Keep ability for custom key generators.
  • Add explicit documentation warning that path-only keying is unsafe for query-dependent responses.

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

CVE ID

CVE-2026-30246

Weaknesses

Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor

The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. Learn more on MITRE.

Use of Cache Containing Sensitive Information

The code uses a cache that contains sensitive information, but the cache can be read by an actor outside of the intended control sphere. Learn more on MITRE.

Credits