CVE-2024-8698
HIGHCVE-2024-8698 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.7) CWE-347 vulnerability in org.keycloak:keycloak-saml-core. 2 public exploit references exist, so weaponization risk is real. O3 Security confirms whether CVE-2024-8698 is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.
Keycloak-saml-core: improper verification of saml responses leading to privilege escalation in keycloak
Blast Radius
org.keycloak:keycloak-saml-core☕org.keycloak:keycloak-saml-core☕org.keycloak:keycloak-saml-coreReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
A flaw exists in the SAML signature validation method within the Keycloak XMLSignatureUtil class. The method incorrectly determines whether a SAML signature is for the full document or only for specific assertions based on the position of the signature in the XML document, rather than the Reference element used to specify the signed element. This flaw allows attackers to create crafted responses that can bypass the validation, potentially leading to privilege escalation or impersonation attacks.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.keycloak:keycloak-saml-core | all versions | 22.0.13 |
| ☕Maven | org.keycloak:keycloak-saml-core | ≥ 23.0.0&&< 24.0.8 | 24.0.8 |
| ☕Maven | org.keycloak:keycloak-saml-core | ≥ 25.0.0&&< 25.0.6 | 25.0.6 |
Research use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.keycloak:keycloak-saml-core. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update org.keycloak:keycloak-saml-core to 22.0.13 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2024-8698 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether CVE-2024-8698 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to CVE-2024-8698. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2024-8698 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2024-8698 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.