CVE-2025-7043 in API Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 10/19/2026
The ForgeRock client fails to correctly validate refresh tokens. This allows a refresh token to be treated as a valid access token, enabling its use for consuming protected resources. This bypasses the intended security control that requires valid client credentials in addition to a refresh token to obtain a new access token.
An attacker who obtains a stolen or exposed refresh token can leverage this vulnerability to directly access protected resources. This is possible because the standard security flow requiring client credentials to exchange a refresh token for an access token is circumvented.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2026
The identified vulnerability in ForgeRock represents a critical failure in authentication protocol validation, specifically concerning the handling of OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect tokens. The core technical flaw lies in the server's inability to distinguish between different types of bearer tokens during resource access requests. In standard security architectures, refresh tokens are designed exclusively for obtaining new access tokens through a dedicated endpoint that requires additional client authentication credentials, such as a secret or certificate. However, due to this implementation error, the system incorrectly accepts a refresh token in contexts where only an access token is valid, effectively treating it with the same privileges as a short-lived access token. This misclassification bypasses the mandatory step of exchanging the refresh token for a new access token using client credentials, thereby undermining the intended security boundary that separates long-term identity proof from immediate resource authorization.
From an operational perspective, this flaw significantly lowers the barrier for unauthorized access in scenarios where refresh tokens are compromised. Refresh tokens typically have longer lifespans than access tokens and may be stored on less secure devices or transmitted over channels susceptible to interception if not properly secured. An attacker who obtains a stolen refresh token can directly consume protected resources without needing to perform the additional step of authenticating with client credentials. This circumvention means that even robust multi-factor authentication flows are rendered ineffective once the initial session is established and the refresh token is exposed, as the attacker does not need to re-authenticate or prove ownership of the application identity to continue accessing sensitive data.
This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-287, which describes Improper Authentication, specifically regarding the failure to correctly validate credentials during access control checks. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1550, Use Alternate Authentication Credentials, as it allows an attacker to use a credential (the refresh token) in a manner not originally intended by its design specification. The impact is severe because it enables persistent unauthorized access without requiring further interaction with the authentication server or possession of additional secrets that would normally be required for token renewal.
To mitigate this risk, immediate remediation involves patching the ForgeRock software to enforce strict type checking on incoming tokens at all resource endpoints. Administrators should ensure that refresh tokens are only accepted by the specific token exchange endpoint and never by general API gateways or protected resources. Additionally, implementing short-lived access tokens with frequent rotation can limit the window of opportunity for exploitation even if a refresh token is compromised. Organizations must also review their logging mechanisms to detect unusual patterns where refresh tokens are being used in resource request contexts, which would indicate potential abuse of this vulnerability. Regular security audits and adherence to OAuth 2.0 best practices regarding token lifecycle management are essential to prevent similar misconfigurations in the future.