Apache CXF: STSTokenValidator can accept untrusted SAML assertions because it shares validation state between requests

MITRE NVD CVE.ORG JSON API

Summary

CVECVE-2026-97791
StatePUBLISHED
Assignerapache
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-10-09 11:17:03 UTC
Updated2026-10-20 12:38:56 UTC
DescriptionIn Apache CXF, STSTokenValidator checks whether a SAML assertion is signed by a trusted certificate before deciding to send it to the STS. That result was stored in one object shared by all requests, so one request could read another's result. A remote, unauthenticated attacker could send a forged assertion signed with an untrusted certificate while legitimate requests were being processed, and it could be accepted as trusted without ever reaching the STS. Only services that use STSTokenValidator to validate SAML tokens without alwaysValidateToSts set are affected.  Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.2.4 or 4.1.9 or 3.6.13, which fix this issue.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 7.5 HIGH from ADP

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS: 0.001680000 probability, percentile 0.055960000 (date 2026-10-11)

Problem Types: CWE-362 | CWE-362 CWE-362 Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1ADPDECLARED7.5HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
3.1134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0Secondary7.5HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

NVD Known Affected Configurations (CPE 2.3)

TypeVendorProductVersionUpdateEditionLanguage
Application Apache Cxf All All All All

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Apache Software Foundation Apache CXF affected 4.2.0 4.2.4 semver Not specified
CNA Apache Software Foundation Apache CXF affected 4.0.0 4.1.9 semver Not specified
CNA Apache Software Foundation Apache CXF affected 3.6.13 semver Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/10/09/10 af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 www.openwall.com Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
lists.apache.org/thread.html/ssdr417qgms9fjl0m8802xd8170wnk1l [email protected] lists.apache.org Issue Tracking, Vendor Advisory
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: MopMonk-AI (en)

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