Answer in brief
CVE-2026-120459 records a Critical severity (CVSS 9.1) vulnerability in python-jose through 3.5.0 Authentication Bypass via Empty HMAC Key. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps mpdavis/python-jose (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.
Analysis pending evidence review
HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.
CVSS is 9.1. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.
Analysis status
Analysis pending evidence review
Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.
The current feed maps mpdavis/python-jose (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| mpdavis/python-josegeneric | >=0 <=3.5.0 | Not reported |
Published upstream
Nov 2, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:recordSource modified
Nov 2, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:recordFirst seen by HOL
Nov 2, 2026
python-jose through 3.5.0 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to forge JWTs because HMACKey and CryptographyHMACKey accept zero-length HMAC secrets. When an application's HS256/HS384/HS512 verification key resolves to empty, such as an oct JWK with empty k, attackers can forge tokens with arbitrary claims that jwt.decode accepts.
Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.