CVE-2026-9083 in Keycloak
Summary
by MITRE • 06/25/2026
A flaw was found in Keycloak. A realm administrator with the "manage-realm" role can exploit this vulnerability by submitting an arbitrary filesystem path as a keystore parameter when creating a key provider component. This allows the administrator to probe arbitrary filesystem paths, determining which files exist and are readable by the Keycloak process. This information disclosure could be used to identify high-value targets for follow-on attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical path traversal and information disclosure flaw within the Keycloak identity and access management platform that directly impacts the security posture of organizations relying on this authentication solution. The vulnerability exists in the key provider component creation functionality where realm administrators with minimal privileges can manipulate filesystem paths through keystore parameters, creating a dangerous privilege escalation vector that undermines the principle of least privilege enforcement.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient input validation and path sanitization within Keycloak's component management system. When administrators create key provider components, the application accepts arbitrary filesystem paths without proper restrictions or canonicalization checks, allowing maliciously crafted paths to traverse the filesystem. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-200 Information Exposure, where the system fails to properly validate user-supplied input against expected file system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, creating a reconnaissance capability that enables attackers to map the underlying filesystem structure and identify sensitive files accessible to the Keycloak process. An attacker can probe for configuration files, private keys, database credentials, or other valuable assets that might be stored in predictable locations within the application's file system hierarchy. This reconnaissance phase significantly reduces the attack surface for subsequent exploitation attempts, as identified in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1083 File and Directory Discovery and T1592 Asset Discovery.
Organizations using Keycloak are particularly vulnerable when administrators have the "manage-realm" role, as this privilege level is commonly granted to users who should not have broad filesystem access capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's security model where administrative privileges do not properly account for file system boundaries and access controls. This creates an inherent risk that can be exploited even when other security measures are properly implemented.
The recommended mitigations include implementing strict input validation and path canonicalization before any filesystem operations, restricting realm administrators from providing arbitrary filesystem paths during component creation, and enforcing mandatory access controls that prevent traversal beyond designated application directories. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual filesystem access patterns and applying the principle of least privilege more rigorously by limiting administrative capabilities to only those required for specific operational tasks. Additionally, regular security assessments should verify that all user inputs are properly sanitized and that file system operations adhere to strict access control policies to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the system architecture.