CVE-2026-100252

Apache ZooKeeper: SASL authorization bypass on the client port through a client-supplied authorization ID

Published Nov 4, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.6 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Improper Authorization vulnerability in Apache ZooKeeper.

When SASL authentication is enabled on the client port, the server's SASL callback handler grants every authorization identity (authzid) that a client requests, without checking it against the principal the client authenticated as. The server then tries to replace the requested identity with a canonical form of the authenticated principal, derived from the zookeeper.security.auth_to_local rules. If no rule applies to the principal, canonicalization fails and the error is only logged. The client-requested authzid then becomes the session's SASL identity for all ACL checks.

An authenticated client whose principal is not covered by the auth_to_local rules can therefore claim any SASL identity. With the default rules, this includes any Kerberos principal from a realm other than the server's default realm, such as a principal from a cross-realm trusted realm. The client then gets the permissions granted to that identity in sasl ACLs. If the requested identity matches a configured zookeeper.superUser, it gets superuser access to the whole data tree.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.8.8 or 3.9.7, which fixes the issue.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-807
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apache
Apache zookeeper
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache zookeeper
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Improper Authorization vulnerability in Apache ZooKeeper. When SASL authentication is enabled on the client port, the server's SASL callback handler grants every authorization identity (authzid) that a client requests, without checking it against the principal the client authenticated as. The server then tries to replace the requested identity with a canonical form of the authenticated principal, derived from the zookeeper.security.auth_to_local rules. If no rule applies to the principal, canonicalization fails and the error is only logged. The client-requested authzid then becomes the session's SASL identity for all ACL checks. An authenticated client whose principal is not covered by the auth_to_local rules can therefore claim any SASL identity. With the default rules, this includes any Kerberos principal from a realm other than the server's default realm, such as a principal from a cross-realm trusted realm. The client then gets the permissions granted to that identity in sasl ACLs. If the requested identity matches a configured zookeeper.superUser, it gets superuser access to the whole data tree. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.8.8 or 3.9.7, which fixes the issue.
Title Apache ZooKeeper: SASL authorization bypass on the client port through a client-supplied authorization ID
Weaknesses CWE-863
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
apache
Published
Updated
Nov 5, 2026, 4:55 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 4:45 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Nov 4, 2026, 11:17 AM
Modified
Nov 5, 2026, 5:18 AM
Severity
Important
Public date
Nov 4, 2026, 10:44 AM