CVE-2024-11736: Keycloak quarkus server Keycloak Allows Unrestricted Admin Use Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f4v7-3mww-9gc2
Share
CVSS 4.9
CWE-526
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-11736 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.9) keycloak allows unrestricted admin use vulnerability (CWE-526: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in an Environment Variable) affecting Keycloak quarkus server libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves keycloak allows unrestricted admin use of system and environment variables. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 26.0.8.

CVE-2024-11736 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-11736
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f4v7-3mww-9gc2
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 quarkus server
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-2024-11736

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Keycloak quarkus server 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-quarkus-server fixed: 26.0.8 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.keycloak</groupId>
    <artifactId>keycloak-quarkus-server</artifactId>
    <version>26.0.8</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-2024-11736, 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 quarkus server in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 26.0.8), 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 quarkus server, 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 security vulnerability has been identified that allows admin users to access sensitive server environment variables and system properties through user-configurable URLs. Specifically, when configuring backchannel logout URLs or admin URLs, admin users can include placeholders like ${env.VARNAME} or ${PROPNAME}. The server replaces these placeholders with the actual values of environment variables or system properties during URL processing.

CVE-2024-11736 Affected Keycloak quarkus server Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
26.0.8
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-server
maven/org.keycloak/keycloak-quarkus-server
Maven
< 26.0.8
26.0.8

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-f4v7-3mww-9gc2
NVD — CVE-2024-11736 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-11736
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/commit/7a76858fe4aa39a39fb6b86dd3d2c113d9c59854
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:02... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:0299
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:03... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:0300
Keycloak quarkus server Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-11736
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2328850
Keycloak quarkus server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-11736?
CVE-2024-11736 is a security vulnerability in Keycloak quarkus server involving Keycloak allows unrestricted admin use of system and environment variables under CWE-526: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in an Environment Variable.
Which Keycloak quarkus server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 26.0.8 across affected packages: org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-server.
What version fixes CVE-2024-11736?
Upgrading to 26.0.8 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is keycloak-quarkus-server affected?
Yes, org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-server is affected in releases prior to 26.0.8. Upgrade your dependency to 26.0.8 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-11736?
CVE-2024-11736 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-2024-11736?
CVE-2024-11736 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-2024-11736?
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-f4v7-3mww-9gc2",
  "modified" : "2025-01-14T16:38:41Z",
  "published" : "2025-01-13T16:58:08Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-11736" ],
  "summary" : "Keycloak allows unrestricted admin use of system and environment variables",
  "details" : "A security vulnerability has been identified that allows admin users to access sensitive server environment variables and system properties through user-configurable URLs. Specifically, when configuring backchannel logout URLs or admin URLs, admin users can include placeholders like ${env.VARNAME} or ${PROPNAME}. The server replaces these placeholders with the actual values of environment variables or system properties during URL processing.\n\n",
  "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-quarkus-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "26.0.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-f4v7-3mww-9gc2"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-11736"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/commit/7a76858fe4aa39a39fb6b86dd3d2c113d9c59854"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:0299"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:0300"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-11736"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2328850"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-526" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-01-13T16:58:08Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-01-14T09:15:20Z"
  }
}