In 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.
History

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:apache:cxf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}


Sat, 10 Oct 2026 03:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-363

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-488
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

threat_severity

Important


Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apache
Apache cxf
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache cxf

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-363

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In 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.
Title Apache CXF: STSTokenValidator can accept untrusted SAML assertions because it shares validation state between requests
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: apache

Published: 2026-10-09T10:19:26.153Z

Updated: 2026-10-15T17:32:09.718Z

Reserved: 2026-09-25T04:38:00.142Z

Link: CVE-2026-97791

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-09T11:08:04.093Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-10-09T11:17:03.380

Modified: 2026-10-20T12:38:56.460

Link: CVE-2026-97791

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-10-09T10:19:26Z

Links: CVE-2026-97791 - Bugzilla