CVE-2025-11538: Keycloak quarkus dist Keycloak Has Debug Default Bind Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-j4vq-q93m-4683
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CVSS 6.8
CWE-1327
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-11538 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.8) keycloak has debug default bind vulnerability (CWE-1327: Binding to an Unrestricted IP Address) affecting Keycloak quarkus dist libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves keycloak has debug default bind address. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 26.4.4.

CVE-2025-11538 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-11538
GHSA Identifier GHSA-j4vq-q93m-4683
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.8
CWE Classification CWE-1327: Binding to an Unrestricted IP Address
Affected Product Keycloak quarkus dist
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.8

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2025-11538

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Keycloak quarkus dist 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-dist fixed: 26.4.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.keycloak</groupId>
    <artifactId>keycloak-quarkus-dist</artifactId>
    <version>26.4.4</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-2025-11538, 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 dist in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 26.4.4), 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-1327: Binding to an Unrestricted IP Address, where the product assigns the address 0.0.0.0 for a database server, a cloud service/instance, or any computing resource that communicates remotely. In Keycloak quarkus dist, 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 vulnerability exists in Keycloak's server distribution where enabling debug mode (`--debug`) insecurely defaults to binding the Java Debug Wire Protocol (JDWP) port to all network interfaces (`0.0.0.0`). This exposes the debug port to the local network, allowing an attacker on the same network segment to attach a remote debugger and achieve remote code execution within the Keycloak Java virtual machine. Red Hat evaluates this as a Moderate impact vulnerability due to the requirement of running debug mode and untrusted network. Also, for Red Hat Single Sign-On, this must as well be bound to 0.0.0.0 address, which is not recommended in production scenarios.

CVE-2025-11538 Affected Keycloak quarkus dist Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
26.4.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-dist
maven/org.keycloak/keycloak-quarkus-dist
Maven
< 26.4.4
26.4.4

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-j4vq-q93m-4683
NVD — CVE-2025-11538 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-11538
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:21... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:21370
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2025:21... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:21371
Keycloak quarkus dist Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-11538
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2402622
Keycloak quarkus dist Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-11538?
CVE-2025-11538 is a security vulnerability in Keycloak quarkus dist involving Keycloak has debug default bind address under CWE-1327: Binding to an Unrestricted IP Address.
Which Keycloak quarkus dist versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 26.4.4 across affected packages: org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-dist.
What version fixes CVE-2025-11538?
Upgrading to 26.4.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is keycloak-quarkus-dist affected?
Yes, org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-dist is affected in releases prior to 26.4.4. Upgrade your dependency to 26.4.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-11538?
CVE-2025-11538 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-11538?
CVE-2025-11538 is classified under CWE-1327: Binding to an Unrestricted IP Address (The product assigns the address 0.0.0.0 for a database server, a cloud service/instance, or any computing resource that communicates remotely.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2025-11538?
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-j4vq-q93m-4683",
  "modified" : "2025-12-02T00:35:03Z",
  "published" : "2025-12-02T00:35:03Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-11538" ],
  "summary" : "Keycloak has debug default bind address",
  "details" : "A vulnerability exists in Keycloak's server distribution where enabling debug mode (`--debug`) insecurely defaults to binding the Java Debug Wire Protocol (JDWP) port to all network interfaces (`0.0.0.0`). This exposes the debug port to the local network, allowing an attacker on the same network segment to attach a remote debugger and achieve remote code execution within the Keycloak Java virtual machine.\n\nRed Hat evaluates this as a Moderate impact vulnerability due to the requirement of running debug mode and untrusted network. Also, for Red Hat Single Sign-On, this must as well be bound to 0.0.0.0 address, which is not recommended in production scenarios.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.keycloak:keycloak-quarkus-dist"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "26.4.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-j4vq-q93m-4683"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-11538"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:21370"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:21371"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-11538"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2402622"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1327" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-12-02T00:35:03Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}