Apache CXF up to 3.6.12/4.1.8/4.2.3 STSTokenValidator information disclosure

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Apache CXF up to 3.6.12/4.1.8/4.2.3 and classified as problematic. This impacts the function STSTokenValidator. This manipulation causes information disclosure. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-97791. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Apache CXF up to 3.6.12/4.1.8/4.2.3 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function STSTokenValidator. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a information disclosure vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-200. The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

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.

It is possible to read the advisory at lists.apache.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-97791 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/09/2026). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1592 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 3.6.13, 4.1.9 or 4.2.4 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Type

• Application Server Software

Vendor

• Apache

Name

• CXF

Version

• 3.6.0
• 3.6.1
• 3.6.2
• 3.6.3
• 3.6.4
• 3.6.5
• 3.6.6
• 3.6.7
• 3.6.8
• 3.6.9
• 3.6.10
• 3.6.11
• 3.6.12
• 4.1.0
• 4.1.1
• 4.1.2
• 4.1.3
• 4.1.4
• 4.1.5
• 4.1.6
• 4.1.7
• 4.1.8
• 4.2.0
• 4.2.1
• 4.2.2
• 4.2.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.apache.org/

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