CVE-2022-1466: Keycloak core Improper Authorization Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f32v-vf79-p29q
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CVSS 6.5
CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-1466 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) improper authorization vulnerability (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) affecting Keycloak core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves improper authorization in keycloak. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 17.0.1.

CVE-2022-1466 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-1466
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f32v-vf79-p29q
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
Affected Product Keycloak core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2022-1466

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Keycloak core 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-core fixed: 17.0.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.keycloak</groupId>
    <artifactId>keycloak-core</artifactId>
    <version>17.0.1</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-2022-1466, 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 core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 17.0.1), 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-863: Incorrect Authorization, where the product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check. In Keycloak core, 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

Due to improper authorization, Red Hat Single Sign-On is vulnerable to users performing actions that they should not be allowed to perform. It was possible to add users to the master realm even though no respective permission was granted.

CVE-2022-1466 Affected Keycloak core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
17.0.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.keycloak:keycloak-core
maven/org.keycloak/keycloak-core
Maven
< 17.0.1
17.0.1

References

NVD — CVE-2022-1466 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-1466
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2050228
Keycloak core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak
www.syss.de/fileadmin/dokumente... WEB
https://www.syss.de/fileadmin/dokumente/Publikationen/Advisories/SYSS-2021-076.txt
www.syss.de/pentest-blog/fehler... WEB
https://www.syss.de/pentest-blog/fehlerhafte-autorisierung-bei-red-hat-single-sign-on-750ga-syss-2021-076

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-1466?
CVE-2022-1466 is a security vulnerability in Keycloak core involving Improper authorization in Keycloak under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization.
Which Keycloak core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 17.0.1 across affected packages: org.keycloak:keycloak-core.
What version fixes CVE-2022-1466?
Upgrading to 17.0.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is keycloak-core affected?
Yes, org.keycloak:keycloak-core is affected in releases prior to 17.0.1. Upgrade your dependency to 17.0.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-1466?
CVE-2022-1466 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-1466?
CVE-2022-1466 is classified under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization (The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2022-1466?
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-f32v-vf79-p29q",
  "modified" : "2022-05-26T19:40:49Z",
  "published" : "2022-04-27T00:00:19Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-1466" ],
  "summary" : "Improper authorization in Keycloak",
  "details" : "Due to improper authorization, Red Hat Single Sign-On is vulnerable to users performing actions that they should not be allowed to perform. It was possible to add users to the master realm even though no respective permission was granted.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.keycloak:keycloak-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "17.0.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-1466"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2050228"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.syss.de/fileadmin/dokumente/Publikationen/Advisories/SYSS-2021-076.txt"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.syss.de/pentest-blog/fehlerhafte-autorisierung-bei-red-hat-single-sign-on-750ga-syss-2021-076"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-04-28T21:03:04Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-04-26T19:15:00Z"
  }
}