CVE-2024-9666: Keycloak quarkus server Denial of Service Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jgwc-jh89-rpgq
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CVSS 4.7
CWE-444
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-9666 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.7) denial of service vulnerability (CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling')) affecting Keycloak quarkus server libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves keycloak proxy header handling denial-of-service (dos) vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 26.0.6.

CVE-2024-9666 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-9666
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jgwc-jh89-rpgq
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.7
CWE Classification CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling')
Affected Product Keycloak quarkus server
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.7

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2024-9666

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: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.keycloak</groupId>
    <artifactId>keycloak-quarkus-server</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-server fixed: 26.0.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.keycloak</groupId>
    <artifactId>keycloak-quarkus-server</artifactId>
    <version>26.0.6</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-2024-9666, 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 26.0.6), 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-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling'), where the product acts as an intermediary http agent (such as a proxy or firewall) in the data flow between two entities such as a client and server, but it does not interpret malformed http requests or responses in ways that are consistent with how the messages will be processed by those entities that are at the ultimate destination. 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

Keycloak versions 26 and earlier are vulnerable to a denial-of-service (DoS) attack through improper handling of proxy headers. When Keycloak is configured to accept incoming proxy headers, it may accept non-IP values, such as obfuscated identifiers, without proper validation. This can lead to costly DNS resolution operations, which an attacker could exploit to tie up IO threads and potentially cause a denial of service. The attacker must have access to send requests to a Keycloak instance that is configured to accept proxy headers, specifically when reverse proxies do not overwrite incoming headers, and Keycloak is configured to trust these headers. For Keycloak version 26, for successful exploitation includes: the realm must have SslRequired=EXTERNAL (the default), HTTP must be enabled, the instance must not be using a full hostname URL, access must come from behind a proxy (assuming the proxy overwrites the X-Forwarded-For header), and trusted proxies must not be set or must incorrectly trust the client from which the request is originating.

CVE-2024-9666 Affected Keycloak quarkus server Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
26.0.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-server
maven/org.keycloak/keycloak-quarkus-server
Maven
org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-server
maven/org.keycloak/keycloak-quarkus-server
Maven
≥ 25.0.0
< 26.0.6
26.0.6

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-jgwc-jh89-rpgq
NVD — CVE-2024-9666 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-9666
Keycloak quarkus server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/issues/35216
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2024:10... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:10175
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2024:10... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:10176
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2024:10... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:10177
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2024:10... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:10178
Keycloak quarkus server Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-9666
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2317440
Keycloak quarkus server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-9666?
CVE-2024-9666 is a security vulnerability in Keycloak quarkus server involving Keycloak proxy header handling Denial-of-Service (DoS) vulnerability under CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling').
Which Keycloak quarkus server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 26.0.6 across affected packages: org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-server.
What version fixes CVE-2024-9666?
Upgrading to 26.0.6 (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 Latest secure release, 26.0.6. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release, 26.0.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-9666?
CVE-2024-9666 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.7 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2024-9666?
CVE-2024-9666 is classified under CWE-444: Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests ('HTTP Request/Response Smuggling') (The product acts as an intermediary HTTP agent (such as a proxy or firewall) in the data flow between two entities such as a client and server, but it does not interpret malformed HTTP requests or responses in ways that are consistent with how the messages will be processed by those entities that are at the ultimate destination.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2024-9666?
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-jgwc-jh89-rpgq",
  "modified" : "2024-11-25T19:39:12Z",
  "published" : "2024-11-25T19:39:12Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-9666" ],
  "summary" : "Keycloak proxy header handling Denial-of-Service (DoS) vulnerability",
  "details" : "Keycloak versions 26 and earlier are vulnerable to a denial-of-service (DoS) attack through improper handling of proxy headers. When Keycloak is configured to accept incoming proxy headers, it may accept non-IP values, such as obfuscated identifiers, without proper validation. This can lead to costly DNS resolution operations, which an attacker could exploit to tie up IO threads and potentially cause a denial of service.\n\nThe attacker must have access to send requests to a Keycloak instance that is configured to accept proxy headers, specifically when reverse proxies do not overwrite incoming headers, and Keycloak is configured to trust these headers.\n\nFor Keycloak version 26, for successful exploitation includes: the realm must have SslRequired=EXTERNAL (the default), HTTP must be enabled, the instance must not be using a full hostname URL, access must come from behind a proxy (assuming the proxy overwrites the X-Forwarded-For header), and trusted proxies must not be set or must incorrectly trust the client from which the request is originating.\n\n",
  "severity" : [ {
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  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
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  } ],
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "< 24.0.9"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
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      "name" : "org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "25.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "26.0.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-jgwc-jh89-rpgq"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-9666"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/issues/35216"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:10175"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:10176"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:10177"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:10178"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-9666"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2317440"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-444" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-11-25T19:39:12Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}