GHSA-2qqc-p94c-hxwh
MEDIUMFlowise: Weak Default Express Session Secret
Blast Radius
Weekly download volume for affected packages — a proxy for how broadly this vulnerability is deployed.
flowisenpmDescription
Detection Method: Kolega.dev Deep Code Scan
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | packages/server/src/enterprise/middleware/passport/index.ts:55 |
| Practical Exploitability | High |
| Developer Approver | [email protected] |
Description
Express session secret has a weak default value 'flowise' when EXPRESS_SESSION_SECRET is not set.
Affected Code
secret: process.env.EXPRESS_SESSION_SECRET || 'flowise'
Evidence
The default session secret 'flowise' is publicly visible and weak. Session cookies signed with this secret can be forged by attackers.
Impact
Session hijacking and forgery - attackers can create arbitrary session cookies to impersonate any user, bypassing all authentication mechanisms.
Recommendation
Require EXPRESS_SESSION_SECRET to be set with a strong random value. Throw an error on startup if not configured. Use cryptographically strong random strings (minimum 256 bits).
Notes
The Express session secret defaults to the string 'flowise' when EXPRESS_SESSION_SECRET is not set (line 55). This secret is used to sign session cookies via express-session middleware. Since 'flowise' is publicly visible in the source code, an attacker can forge valid session cookies to impersonate any user without authentication. The .env.example file has this commented out (# EXPRESS_SESSION_SECRET=flowise), implying it's optional, which compounds the risk. Unlike development-only defaults, this code path is active in production if the environment variable is not set. The application should require EXPRESS_SESSION_SECRET to be explicitly configured with a cryptographically strong random value and fail to start otherwise.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📦npm | flowise | all versions | 3.1.0 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for flowise. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update flowise to 3.1.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-2qqc-p94c-hxwh is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether GHSA-2qqc-p94c-hxwh is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to GHSA-2qqc-p94c-hxwh. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-2qqc-p94c-hxwh in your dependencies?
O3 detects GHSA-2qqc-p94c-hxwh across npm dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.