CVE-2026-22797 OpenStack CVE debrief

Who should care

OpenStack users and administrators who utilize the keystonemiddleware component should be aware of this vulnerability and take immediate action to update their systems. This vulnerability can allow an authenticated attacker to escalate privileges or impersonate other users, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control of the system.

Technical summary

The external_oauth2_token middleware in OpenStack keystonemiddleware fails to properly sanitize incoming authentication headers before processing OAuth 2.0 tokens. This allows an authenticated attacker to send forged identity headers, such as X-Is-Admin-Project, X-Roles, or X-User-Id, to escalate privileges or impersonate other users. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.9 and is considered CRITICAL. The affected versions are 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.

Defensive priority

High

Recommended defensive actions

• Update keystonemiddleware to the latest version
• Review and sanitize incoming authentication headers
• Monitor system logs for suspicious activity
• Implement additional security measures to prevent privilege escalation
• Verify and validate user identities and roles

Evidence notes

The CVE record and NVD detail provide information on the vulnerability, its impact, and affected versions. The OpenStack keystonemiddleware component is affected by this vulnerability, which can allow an authenticated attacker to escalate privileges or impersonate other users.

Official resources