Answer in brief
CVE-2026-97791 records a High severity (CVSS 7.5) vulnerability in Apache CXF: STSTokenValidator can accept untrusted SAML assertions because it shares validation state between requests. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps Apache Software Foundation/org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-security (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 7.5. 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 Apache Software Foundation/org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-security (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation/org.apache.cxf:cxf-rt-ws-securitygeneric | >=4.2.0 <4.2.4 || >=4.0.0 <4.1.9 || >=0 <3.6.13 | 4.2.4, 4.1.9, 3.6.13 |
Published upstream
Oct 9, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:recordSource modified
Oct 15, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:recordFirst seen by HOL
Oct 9, 2026
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.
Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.