CVE-2026-114509 in Laravel
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Laravel is a web application framework. Prior to 12.68.0 and 13.29.0, TokenGuard configured as a standard token-based API guard does not reject a crafted non-string credential. Under affected MySQL or MariaDB configurations, the authentication lookup can match an unintended existing user, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to bypass authentication and take over an account on routes protected by TokenGuard. This issue is fixed in versions 12.68.0 and 13.29.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Laravel web application framework represents a critical authentication bypass flaw rooted in improper type handling during credential validation. Specifically, this defect resides within the TokenGuard component when configured as a standard token-based API guard. The core technical issue arises from the framework's failure to strictly enforce string data types for incoming credentials before processing them against stored hashes or database records. In secure software design, authentication mechanisms must rigorously validate input formats to prevent type confusion attacks where an attacker exploits loose typing rules inherent in certain programming languages or underlying database engines. By accepting non-string inputs such as integers, booleans, or null values without rejection, the application creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the comparison logic used during user lookup operations.
This flaw has significant operational implications under specific backend configurations involving MySQL or MariaDB databases. These relational database management systems are known to perform implicit type conversion when comparing mixed data types in SQL queries. When an attacker submits a crafted non-string credential, such as a numeric value that coincidentally matches the integer representation of a user's ID or token hash prefix, the database engine may coerce this input into a format compatible with the stored credentials. Consequently, the authentication lookup mechanism can erroneously match against an unintended existing user account rather than rejecting the malformed request outright. This behavior effectively neutralizes the security controls designed to verify identity, allowing unauthenticated actors to gain access to protected resources by simply providing inputs that trigger favorable type coercion within the database layer.
The impact of this vulnerability is severe as it directly compromises the integrity of the authentication subsystem. An attacker can bypass login requirements entirely and assume the identity of any user whose credentials or identifiers are susceptible to such implicit conversion attacks. This leads to unauthorized account takeover, which may result in data exfiltration, privilege escalation if the compromised account holds administrative roles, and potential lateral movement within the application ecosystem. Since TokenGuard is often used for API endpoints that handle sensitive business logic, this bypass can expose critical functionality to abuse without any prior authentication credentials being validly presented by a legitimate user.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must upgrade their Laravel installations immediately to version 12.68.0 or 13.29.0 and later releases where the TokenGuard has been patched to strictly reject non-string credential inputs before they reach the database layer. This fix ensures that type validation occurs at the application level rather than relying on potentially unsafe implicit conversions within the database engine. Additionally, developers should review their authentication configurations to ensure strict typing is enforced across all API endpoints utilizing token-based guards. Implementing defense-in-depth strategies such as input validation libraries and parameterized queries can further reduce the attack surface associated with type confusion vulnerabilities.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, specifically regarding the failure to validate data types during authentication processes. It also relates closely to CWE-89 SQL Injection if the underlying issue involves how inputs are concatenated or compared in raw queries, though the primary vector here is type coercion leading to logical bypasses. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this exploit technique maps to ATT&CK T1078 Valid Accounts, where an adversary uses legitimate credentials obtained through unauthorized means, and potentially T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application if the vulnerability is leveraged remotely over HTTP APIs. The remediation strategy emphasizes patch management as the primary control while highlighting the importance of strict input sanitization in modern web application development practices to prevent similar authentication bypasses in other frameworks or custom implementations.