Keycloak secondary factor bypass in step-up authentication
Keycloak does not correctly validate its client step-up authentication. A password-authed attacker could use this flaw to register a false second auth factor, alongside the existing one, to a targeted account. The second factor then permits step-up authentication.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.keycloak:keycloak-services | < 22.0.10, >= 23.0.0, < 24.0.3 | 22.0.10, 24.0.3 |
References
- https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/security/advisories/GHSA-4f53-xh3v-g8x4
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3597
- https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak/commit/aa634aee882892960a526e49982806e103c8a432
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:1866
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:1867
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:1868
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-3597
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2221760
- https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-287, CWE-288- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.keycloak:keycloak-services- Disclosed
- 17.04.2024
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 13:20
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-4f53-xh3v-g8x4 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.keycloak:keycloak-services
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 98
- First → latest
- 01.2022 08.2026
- Without a fix
- 16
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 3
- High 26
- Medium 51
- Low 18
Disclosures per year
- 2022: 9
- 2023: 9
- 2024: 17
- 2025: 11
- 2026: 52
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