Firebase PHP-JWT key/algorithm type confusionGHSA-8xf4-w7qw-pjjw
CRITICALGHSA-8xf4-w7qw-pjjw is a critical-severity (CVSS 9.1) CWE-843 vulnerability in firebase/php-jwt. 1 public exploit or proof-of-concept reference is indexed, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for firebase/php-jwt — see the affected versions and patch details below.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
Where this sits among everything scored
Real-World Exposure
firebase/php-jwtReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Packagist packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
In Firebase PHP-JWT before 6.0.0, an algorithm-confusion issue (e.g., RS256 / HS256) exists via the kid (aka Key ID) header, when multiple types of keys are loaded in a key ring. This allows an attacker to forge tokens that validate under the incorrect key. NOTE: this provides a straightforward way to use the PHP-JWT library unsafely, but might not be considered a vulnerability in the library itself.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐘Packagist | firebase/php-jwt | all versions | 6.0.0composer require firebase/php-jwt:^6.0.0 |
Affected Products
firebase php-jwtgoogleResearch 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 firebase/php-jwt, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update firebase/php-jwt to 6.0.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-8xf4-w7qw-pjjw 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-8xf4-w7qw-pjjw in your dependencies?
Find it across Packagist, including transitive dependencies.