Okta Access Gateway: Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code
CVE-2026-78550 is a high-severity improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code vulnerability in Okta Access Gateway from Okta, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version 2026.9.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating Okta Access Gateway to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.38% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Okta Access Gateway to 2026.9.1 or a later version.
- Update Access Gateway to 2026.9.1 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on trust.okta.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okta | Okta Access Gateway | before 2026.9.1 | 2026.9.1 |
| Okta | Access Gateway | before 2026.9.1 | 2026.9.1 |
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
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- 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
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.6 | Medium | CNA (okta.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | NVD |
Official description
The Okta Access Gateway management console passes user-supplied input to eval() without sanitization during an authenticated administrator SSH session. As a result, the unsanitized input is executed directly, leading to code execution with the privileges of the management console.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code
The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes code syntax before using the input in a dynamic evaluation call (e.g. eval).
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If possible, refactor your code so that it does not need to use eval() at all.
- For Python programs, it is frequently encouraged to use the ast.literal_eval() function instead of eval, since it is intentionally designed to avoid executing code. However, an adversary could still cause excessive memory or stack consumption via deeply nested structures, so the python documentation discourages use of ast.literal_eval() on untrusted data.
More Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code vulnerabilities (CWE-95)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Okta Access Gateway
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code vulnerabilities
- 8.6 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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