CVE-2025-9162: Keycloak model storage services Keycloak Potential Variable Reference Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8hxp-qmph-w5gq
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CVSS 4.9
CWE-526
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-9162 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.9) keycloak potential variable reference vulnerability (CWE-526: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in an Environment Variable) affecting Keycloak model storage services libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves keycloak potential variable reference in model storage services. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 26.3.4.

CVE-2025-9162 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-9162
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8hxp-qmph-w5gq
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.9
CWE Classification CWE-526: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in an Environment Variable
Affected Product Keycloak model storage services
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2025-9162

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Keycloak model storage services dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.keycloak:keycloak-model-storage-services fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.keycloak</groupId>
    <artifactId>keycloak-model-storage-services</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.keycloak:keycloak-model-storage-services fixed: 26.3.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.keycloak</groupId>
    <artifactId>keycloak-model-storage-services</artifactId>
    <version>26.3.4</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.keycloak

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2025-9162, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.keycloak

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Keycloak model storage services in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 26.3.4), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.keycloak command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-526: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in an Environment Variable, where the product uses an environment variable to store unencrypted sensitive information. In Keycloak model storage services, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

A flaw was found in org.keycloak/keycloak-model-storage-service. The `KeycloakRealmImport` custom resource substitutes placeholders within imported realm documents, potentially referencing environment variables. This substitution process allows for injection attacks when crafted realm documents are processed. An attacker can leverage this to inject malicious content during the realm import procedure. This can lead to unintended consequences within the Keycloak environment.

CVE-2025-9162 Affected Keycloak model storage services Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
26.3.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.keycloak:keycloak-model-storage-services
maven/org.keycloak/keycloak-model-storage-services
Maven
org.keycloak:keycloak-model-storage-services
maven/org.keycloak/keycloak-model-storage-services
Maven
≥ 26.3.0
< 26.3.4
26.3.4

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-8hxp-qmph-w5gq
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:15... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:15336
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:15... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:15337
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:15... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:15338
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:15... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:15339
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:16... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:16399
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:16... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:16400
Keycloak model storage services Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-9162
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2389396
Keycloak model storage services Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak
Keycloak model storage services Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/blob/26.3.3/model/storage-services/src/main/java/org/keycloak/exportimport/AbstractFileBasedImportProvider.java#L36
Keycloak model storage services Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/blob/75afda410495a9576e00edc3277ab42ca155f806/model/storage-services/src/main/java/org/keycloak/exportimport/AbstractFileBasedImportProvider.java#L35

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-9162?
CVE-2025-9162 is a security vulnerability in Keycloak model storage services involving Keycloak Potential Variable Reference in Model Storage Services under CWE-526: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in an Environment Variable.
Which Keycloak model storage services versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 26.3.4 across affected packages: org.keycloak:keycloak-model-storage-services.
What version fixes CVE-2025-9162?
Upgrading to 26.3.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is keycloak-model-storage-services affected?
Yes, org.keycloak:keycloak-model-storage-services is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release, 26.3.4. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release, 26.3.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-9162?
CVE-2025-9162 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.9 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-9162?
CVE-2025-9162 is classified under CWE-526: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in an Environment Variable (The product uses an environment variable to store unencrypted sensitive information.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2025-9162?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.keycloak'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-8hxp-qmph-w5gq",
  "modified" : "2025-10-10T14:03:37Z",
  "published" : "2025-10-08T23:32:36Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-9162" ],
  "summary" : "Keycloak Potential Variable Reference in Model Storage Services",
  "details" : "A flaw was found in org.keycloak/keycloak-model-storage-service. The `KeycloakRealmImport` custom resource substitutes placeholders within imported realm documents, potentially referencing environment variables. This substitution process allows for injection attacks when crafted realm documents are processed. An attacker can leverage this to inject malicious content during the realm import procedure. This can lead to unintended consequences within the Keycloak environment.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.keycloak:keycloak-model-storage-services"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "< 26.2.9"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.keycloak:keycloak-model-storage-services"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "26.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "26.3.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-8hxp-qmph-w5gq"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:15336"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:15337"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:15338"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:15339"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:16399"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:16400"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-9162"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2389396"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/blob/26.3.3/model/storage-services/src/main/java/org/keycloak/exportimport/AbstractFileBasedImportProvider.java#L36"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/blob/75afda410495a9576e00edc3277ab42ca155f806/model/storage-services/src/main/java/org/keycloak/exportimport/AbstractFileBasedImportProvider.java#L35"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-526" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-10-08T23:32:36Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}