CVE-2026-16443
Description
A flaw was found in the SAML metadata import functionality of the keycloak-services component, which is the core engine for identity brokering in Red Hat Build of Keycloak. When importing identity provider metadata that lacks specific usage attributes for keys, the system incorrectly disables signature validation for SAML responses even if a signing certificate is provided. This issue allows an unauthenticated attacker to forge a SAML response and gain unauthorized access to a user account by knowing their external identifier.
Statement
The Red Hat Product Security team has assessed the severity of this vulnerability as Important, given that it allows for unauthenticated account takeover under common configuration scenarios. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to impersonate users and gain full access to their accounts by forging SAML responses. The vulnerability's root cause is an improper configuration of signature validation settings during the SAML IdP metadata import process.
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).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 7.4 | 9.1 | 7.4 |
| Attack Vector | Network | Network | Network |
| Attack Complexity | High | Low | High |
| Privileges Required | None | None | None |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | High | High |
| Integrity Impact | High | High | High |
| Availability Impact | None | None | None |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Access Control,Integrity,Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity; Modify Application Data; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
An attacker could gain access to sensitive data and possibly execute unauthorized code.
Acknowledgements
Red Hat would like to thank Paul Bottinelli (Trail of Bits) for reporting this issue.
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