CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-63182NVD status: Awaiting Analysis

lightsaml: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature

CVE-2026-63182 is a high-severity improper verification of cryptographic signature vulnerability in lightsaml from Litesaml, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected lightsaml versions: < 4.7.1; >= 5.0.0, < 5.0.1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.19% 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 lightsaml 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.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Litesamllightsaml< 4.7.1; >= 5.0.0, < 5.0.1Not 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
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).

Official description

LightSAML implements SAML 2.0 data model classes, XML serialization and deserialization, XML security, certificate support, and message bindings. Prior to 4.7.1 and 5.0.1, LightSAML and xmlseclibs disagree about which assertion an inbound SAML signature covers. `Response::deserialize` uses `manyElementsFromXml` to collect only direct-child `saml:Assertion` elements of `samlp:Response`, and `AssertionSignatureValidatorAction` validates their `ds:Signature` using an out-of-band trusted IdP credential resolved by Issuer, not a key from the document. `XMLSecurityDSig::validateReference()` removes the enveloped signature from the shared DOM, but `processRefNode()` resolves `Reference URI="#id"` document-wide through an XPath of the form `//*[@Id]` and takes `item(0)`, which need not be the assertion whose claims LightSAML consumes. An attacker who has captured one genuinely signed assertion, such as an earlier login response, can place its signature-stripped bytes earlier in `samlp:Extensions` and present a forged direct-child assertion with the same ID and copied genuine signature. Validation then covers the hidden genuine bytes while LightSAML surfaces unsigned attacker-controlled `Subject/NameID`, `Conditions`, and `Attributes`, enabling authentication bypass or privilege escalation even when signature validation is required. The behavior was confirmed in versions 5.0.0 and 4.6.1. This issue is fixed in versions 4.7.1 and 5.0.1.

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

The underlying weakness: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature

The product does not verify, or incorrectly verifies, the cryptographic signature for data.

More Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature vulnerabilities (CWE-347)

Timeline

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

References

Recent Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature vulnerabilities

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