Apache HttpClient: SCRAM-SHA-256 mutual authentication bypass may cause the client to accept authentication without proper mutual authentication verification
Summary
| CVE | CVE-2026-40542 |
|---|---|
| State | PUBLISHED |
| Assigner | apache |
| Source Priority | CVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback |
| Published | 2026-04-22 08:16:12 UTC |
| Updated | 2026-04-22 08:16:12 UTC |
| Description | Missing critical step in authentication in Apache HttpClient 5.6 allows an attacker to cause the client to accept SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication without proper mutual authentication verification. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 5.6.1, which fixes this issue. |
Risk And Classification
Problem Types: CWE-304 | CWE-304 CWE-304: Missing Critical Step in Authentication
Vendor Declared Affected Products
| Source | Vendor | Product | Version | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | Apache Software Foundation | Apache HttpClient | affected 5.6 5.6.1 semver | Not specified |
References
| Reference | Source | Link | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| lists.apache.org/thread/tfmgv86xr0z1y096vs3z0y315t1v3o97 | [email protected] | lists.apache.org | |
| CVE Program record | CVE.ORG | www.cve.org | canonical |
| NVD vulnerability detail | NVD | nvd.nist.gov | canonical, analysis |
Vendor Comments And Credit
Discovery Credit
CNA: Rasmus Moorats (en)
There are currently no legacy QID mappings associated with this CVE.