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.
Published: 2026-10-09
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
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Remediation

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History

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:

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

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

Link: CVE-2026-97791

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Undergoing Analysis

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

Modified: 2026-10-09T16:33:39.007

Link: CVE-2026-97791

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-09T13:00:07Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-363

    Race Condition Enabling Link Following