Keycloak vulnerable to Cross-site Scripting
A flaw was found in Keycloak. Under specific circumstances, HTML entities are not sanitized during user impersonation, resulting in a Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
Details
This issue is the result of code found in the exception here: https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/blob/48835576daa158443f69917ac309e1a7c951bc87/services/src/main/java/org/keycloak/authentication/AuthenticationProcessor.java#L1045
Steps to reproduce
When using the legacy admin console:
- Sign in as Admin user in first tab.
- In that tab create new user in keycloak admin section > intercept user creation request and modify it by including malicious js script there (in username field).
- Sign in as newly created user in second tab (same browser window but second tab).
- Navigate back to first tab where you are signed in as admin, navigate to admin console which lists all application users.
- Choose any user (except newly created malicious one) – modify anything for that user in his settings. E.g. navigate to credentials tab and set new credentials for him. Also set new password as temporary.
- After update for that user is made, use impersonate option on that modified user.
- You should see window with form which requires providing new credentials – fill it and submit request.
- Just after submiting request user will get notified that “You are already authenticated as different user ‘[user + payload]’ in this session. Please sign out first.” And malicious payload will be executed instantly.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.keycloak:keycloak-services | <= 21.0.0 | no fix |
References
- https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-w354-2f3c-qvg9
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-1438
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:1043
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:1044
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:1045
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:1047
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:1049
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2022-1438
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2031904
- https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak
- https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/blob/48835576daa158443f69917ac309e1a7c951bc87/services/src/main/java/org/keycloak/authentication/AuthenticationProcessor.java#L1045
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-79- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.keycloak:keycloak-services- Disclosed
- 01.03.2023
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 11:21
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-w354-2f3c-qvg9 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.keycloak:keycloak-services
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 98
- First → latest
- 01.2022 08.2026
- Without a fix
- 16
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 3
- High 26
- Medium 51
- Low 18
Disclosures per year
- 2022: 9
- 2023: 9
- 2024: 17
- 2025: 11
- 2026: 52
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Keycloak vulnerable to Cross-site Scripting this entry
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