CVE-2026-22797
CWE-290Published: January 19, 2026· Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Official Description
An issue was discovered in OpenStack keystonemiddleware 10.5 through 10.7 before 10.7.2, 10.8 and 10.9 before 10.9.1, and 10.10 through 10.12 before 10.12.1. The external_oauth2_token middleware fails to sanitize incoming authentication headers before processing OAuth 2.0 tokens. By sending forged identity headers such as X-Is-Admin-Project, X-Roles, or X-User-Id, an authenticated attacker may escalate privileges or impersonate other users. All deployments using the external_oauth2_token middleware are affected.
Risk Analysis
OpenStack keystonemiddleware fails to sanitize authentication headers, allowing authenticated attackers to escalate privileges or impersonate users. This critical vulnerability impacts all deployments using the external_oauth2_token middleware.
The vulnerability is remotely exploitable. No public exploit is known, and it is not in the CISA KEV.
Upgrade to the patched versions of keystonemiddleware (10.7.2, 10.9.1, or 10.12.1) to ensure proper header sanitization.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-22797 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), with a CVSS base score of 9.9.
The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (14)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-290)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-22797 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts