CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-28498NVD status: Modified

authlib: Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value

CVE-2026-28498 is a high-severity improper validation of integrity check value vulnerability in authlib, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected authlib versions: < 1.6.9. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.26% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of authlib you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Authlibauthlib< 1.6.9Not stated
Red HatRed Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.10Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.12Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.15Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.16Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatLightspeed CoreNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Satellite 6Not specified in the recordNot stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.08.2HighCNA (github.com)
CVSS 3.17.5HighNVD
CVSS 3.19.1CriticalCNA

Official description

Authlib is a Python library which builds OAuth and OpenID Connect servers. Prior to version 1.6.9, a library-level vulnerability was identified in the Authlib Python library concerning the validation of OpenID Connect (OIDC) ID Tokens. Specifically, the internal hash verification logic (_verify_hash) responsible for validating the at_hash (Access Token Hash) and c_hash (Authorization Code Hash) claims exhibits a fail-open behavior when encountering an unsupported or unknown cryptographic algorithm. This flaw allows an attacker to bypass mandatory integrity protections by supplying a forged ID Token with a deliberately unrecognized alg header parameter. The library intercepts the unsupported state and silently returns True (validation passed), inherently violating fundamental cryptographic design principles and direct OIDC specifications. This issue has been patched in version 1.6.9.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value

The product does not validate or incorrectly validates the integrity check values or checksums of a message.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • The protocol specification describes the algorithm used for calculating the checksum. It is then a matter of implementing the calculation and verifying that the calculated checksum and the received checksum match.

More Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value vulnerabilities (CWE-354)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in authlib

All authlib vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value vulnerabilities

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