CVE-2024-7260 in Keycloak
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2024
An open redirect vulnerability was found in Keycloak. A specially crafted URL can be constructed where the referrer and referrer_uri parameters are made to trick a user to visit a malicious webpage. A trusted URL can trick users and automation into believing that the URL is safe, when, in fact, it redirects to a malicious server. This issue can result in a victim inadvertently trusting the destination of the redirect, potentially leading to a successful phishing attack or other types of attacks.
Once a crafted URL is made, it can be sent to a Keycloak admin via email for example. This will trigger this vulnerability when the user visits the page and clicks the link. A malicious actor can use this to target users they know are Keycloak admins for further attacks. It may also be possible to bypass other domain-related security checks, such as supplying this as a OAuth redirect uri. The malicious actor can further obfuscate the redirect_uri using URL encoding, to hide the text of the actual malicious website domain.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7260 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Keycloak identity and access management platform. This security weakness stems from insufficient validation of redirect parameters, specifically the referrer and referrer_uri fields that are commonly used in web applications for user navigation tracking. The vulnerability operates by allowing attackers to construct malicious URLs that appear legitimate due to their inclusion of trusted Keycloak domains, thereby exploiting user trust in the platform's authentication infrastructure. When users click on these crafted links, they are unknowingly redirected from what appears to be a safe Keycloak page to a malicious website controlled by the attacker.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental design flaw in how Keycloak processes redirect parameters without proper sanitization or domain verification. The system accepts user-supplied redirect URIs without validating whether they originate from trusted domains or contain malicious destinations. This weakness is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through various attack vectors including email phishing campaigns, social engineering, or even automated attack tools. The vulnerability is especially concerning in enterprise environments where Keycloak administrators and users frequently interact with the platform, as attackers can specifically target these high-value accounts to escalate their attacks. The ability to bypass domain-related security checks through OAuth redirect URI manipulation demonstrates the sophistication of this flaw, as it can circumvent standard security controls designed to prevent unauthorized redirects.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7260 extends beyond simple phishing attacks, as it provides attackers with a powerful tool for credential theft and further compromise of the target environment. When administrators click on malicious links, they may unknowingly authenticate to attacker-controlled servers, potentially exposing sensitive credentials or session tokens. The URL encoding obfuscation technique mentioned in the vulnerability description allows attackers to hide malicious domains within seemingly legitimate redirect URIs, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification, which is categorized under the broader category of injection flaws in the CWE taxonomy. The attack surface is significantly expanded due to Keycloak's role in identity management, where successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation and lateral movement within the organization's security boundaries.
Organizations utilizing Keycloak should implement immediate mitigations including strict validation of all redirect parameters, enforcement of whitelisting policies for redirect URIs, and implementation of security headers such as Content Security Policy to prevent unauthorized redirects. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns and user behavior anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 Phishing and T1078 Valid Accounts techniques, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that address both technical controls and user awareness training. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other authentication systems and web applications within the organization's infrastructure.