CVE-2026-120984

Description

A flaw was found in the Keycloak server's client management component. When a client is created or imported with authorization services enabled, the system fails to properly clear an internal session attribute used during the setup process. This allows an authenticated attacker with client management permissions to bypass security controls and upload a malicious JavaScript policy, which is then executed on the server when an authorization request is made. Successful exploitation could allow the attacker to run arbitrary code on the server, potentially compromising the entire system.

Statement

This vulnerability is rated as Important rather than Critical because exploitation requires an authenticated attacker with elevated administrative privileges, specifically delegated client management roles. In multi-tenant Red Hat Single Sign-On and Red Hat Build of Keycloak deployments, script-based policies are restricted by default to maintain isolation. However, improper session state cleanup during client provisioning permits an authorized administrator to bypass upload restrictions and inject inline scripts. Subsequent policy evaluation executes within the application server process, breaking realm boundaries and potentially compromising the host environment and co-hosted realms.

Mitigation

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.

Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details

Info alert:Important note

CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).

The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.

CVSS v3 Score Breakdown

Red HatNVDcve.org
Base Score9.1N/A9.1
Attack VectorNetworkN/ANetwork
Attack ComplexityLowN/ALow
Privileges RequiredHighN/AHigh
User InteractionNoneN/ANone
ScopeChangedN/AChanged
ConfidentialityHighN/AHigh
Integrity ImpactHighN/AHigh
Availability ImpactHighN/AHigh

Vector

Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Understanding the Weakness (CWE)

Access Control

Technical Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism

In some cases, injectable code controls authentication; this may lead to a remote vulnerability.

Access Control

Technical Impact: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity

Injected code can access resources that the attacker is directly prevented from accessing.

Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability

Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands

When a product allows a user's input to contain code syntax, it might be possible for an attacker to craft the code in such a way that it will alter the intended control flow of the product. As a result, code injection can often result in the execution of arbitrary code. Code injection attacks can also lead to loss of data integrity in nearly all cases, since the control-plane data injected is always incidental to data recall or writing.

Non-Repudiation

Technical Impact: Hide Activities

Often the actions performed by injected control code are unlogged.

Acknowledgements

Red Hat would like to thank Nassim Abbaoui (OVHcloud) and Marcin Naskręt (UNSHADE) for reporting this issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

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