Description
Keycloak provides a feature called mTLS holder-of-key binding which ensures that a token can only be used by the client that originally requested it by binding it to their digital certificate. A flaw was discovered where the new Standard Token Exchange V2 feature does not check for this certificate. This allows an attacker with stolen client credentials to obtain a standard, unrestricted token that bypasses these security protections.
Published: 2026-09-25
Score: 6.8 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Unauthorized Token Access
Action: Assess
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability is an omission in the Standard Token Exchange V2 feature of Keycloak; it fails to enforce the mutual TLS holder‑of‑key binding that normally restricts a token to the client that requested it. An attacker who has compromised client credentials can obtain a standard, unrestricted token that may be used outside the intended trusting relationship, potentially granting the attacker privileges or access otherwise denied.

Affected Systems

The affected products are Red Hat Build of Keycloak and Red Hat Single Sign‑On 7. Specific version information is not provided in the advisory.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 6.8 indicates medium severity. The EPSS score is not available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The likely attack vector requires the attacker to first gain client credentials and then invoke the vulnerable token exchange endpoint; no additional access or code execution is required beyond those compromised credentials.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 25, 2026 at 08:11 UTC.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

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.


OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Update to the latest Red Hat Build of Keycloak or Red Hat Single Sign‑On 7 release that includes the fix if one becomes available from Red Hat.
  • Limit the lifetime and scope of client credentials and rotate them frequently to reduce the window of opportunity for credential theft.
  • Disable or restrict the use of Standard Token Exchange V2 in environments where mutual TLS holder‑of‑key binding is relied upon, or implement server‑side validation that checks the client’s certificate before issuing tokens.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 25, 2026 at 08:11 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate


Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Keycloak provides a feature called mTLS holder-of-key binding which ensures that a token can only be used by the client that originally requested it by binding it to their digital certificate. A flaw was discovered where the new Standard Token Exchange V2 feature does not check for this certificate. This allows an attacker with stolen client credentials to obtain a standard, unrestricted token that bypasses these security protections.
Title Keycloak-services: keycloak-services: standard token exchange v2 bypasses mtls holder-of-key binding
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat build Keycloak
Redhat red Hat Single Sign On
Weaknesses CWE-287
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:build_keycloak:
cpe:/a:redhat:red_hat_single_sign_on:7
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat build Keycloak
Redhat red Hat Single Sign On
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}


Subscriptions

Redhat Build Keycloak Red Hat Single Sign On
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: redhat

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-25T13:53:07.688Z

Reserved: 2026-09-25T05:55:10.210Z

Link: CVE-2026-97846

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-25T13:53:00.393Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-09-25T07:16:57.147

Modified: 2026-09-25T14:17:26.973

Link: CVE-2026-97846

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-09-24T16:58:01Z

Links: CVE-2026-97846 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-25T08:15:17Z

Weaknesses