Authentication bypass via incorrect XML canonicalization and DOM traversal in saml2-js
Versions of saml2-js prior to 1.12.4 or 2.0.2 are vulnerable to authentication bypass.
The saml2-js library may incorrectly utilize the results of XML DOM traversal and canonicalization APIs in such a way that an attacker may be able to manipulate the SAML data without invalidating the cryptographic signature, allowing the attack to potentially bypass authentication to SAML service providers.
Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is an XML-based markup language for security assertions regarding authentication and permissions, most commonly used for single sign-on (SSO) services.
Some XML DOM traversal and canonicalization APIs may be inconsistent in handling of comments within XML nodes. Incorrect use of these APIs by some SAML libraries results in incorrect parsing of the inner text of XML nodes such that any inner text after the comment is lost prior to cryptographically signing the SAML message. Text after the comment therefore has no impact on the signature on the SAML message.
A remote attacker can modify SAML content for a SAML service provider without invalidating the cryptographic signature, which may allow attackers to bypass primary authentication for the affected SAML service provider
Recommendation
If you use 1.x upgrade to version 1.12.4 or greater If you use 2.x upgrade to version 2.02 or greater
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | saml2-js | < 1.12.4, >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.2 | 1.12.4, 2.0.2 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-287- Platform
- npm
- Package
saml2-js- Disclosed
- 05.07.2019
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-5p5w-j3g7-w4wv - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: saml2-js
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 2
- First → latest
- 07.2019 09.2020
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Medium 2
Disclosures per year
- 2019: 1
- 2020: 1
- 2021: 0
- 2022: 0
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
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Authentication bypass via incorrect XML canonicalization and DOM traversal in saml2-js this entry
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