CVE-2026-102460

io.vertx/vertx-web: vertx-web: Authorization bypass via ChainAuthHandler scope validation failure

Published Oct 14, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.6 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In Eclipse Vert.x versions [4.0.0, 4.5.34] or [5.0.0,5.0.12] or [5.1.0,5.1.9] or [5.2.0, 5.2.0], a scope bypass vulnerability exists in Eclipse Vert.x Web's ChainAuthHandler when used with scope-requiring authentication handlers such as JWTAuthHandler or OAuth2AuthHandler. When a user is already authenticated on the routing context by a preceding handler in the request pipeline, ChainAuthHandler skips all scope validation configured via withScope() or withScopes(). This affects both any() and all() chain modes.



The root cause is that postAuthentication() relies on internal state that is only set during the authenticate() phase, which is skipped entirely for pre-authenticated users. In any() mode, the absence of this state causes the method to fall through without delegating scope checks to any handler. In all() mode, scope checks are unconditionally skipped.



This allows a user with a valid token but insufficient scopes to access resources protected by scope requirements, provided they were authenticated by an earlier handler in the pipeline. The most common trigger is overlapping authentication handlers on nested routes, where a parent route authenticates broadly and a child route uses a chain to enforce specific scopes.



The impacted component Maven coordinate is io.vertx:vertx-web

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
First Time appeared Eclipse Foundation
Eclipse Foundation vert.x
Vendors & Products Eclipse Foundation
Eclipse Foundation vert.x
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Eclipse
Eclipse vert.x
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:eclipse:vert.x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:eclipse:vert.x:5.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Eclipse
Eclipse vert.x
Metrics 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'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-863
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-285
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Scope Bypass in Vert.x Web ChainAuthHandler Allows Unauthorized Access io.vertx/vertx-web: vertx-web: Authorization bypass via ChainAuthHandler scope validation failure
Weaknesses CWE-425
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
Title Scope Bypass in Vert.x Web ChainAuthHandler Allows Unauthorized Access
Weaknesses CWE-285
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In Eclipse Vert.x versions [4.0.0, 4.5.34] or [5.0.0,5.0.12] or [5.1.0,5.1.9] or [5.2.0, 5.2.0], a scope bypass vulnerability exists in Eclipse Vert.x Web's ChainAuthHandler when used with scope-requiring authentication handlers such as JWTAuthHandler or OAuth2AuthHandler. When a user is already authenticated on the routing context by a preceding handler in the request pipeline, ChainAuthHandler skips all scope validation configured via withScope() or withScopes(). This affects both any() and all() chain modes. The root cause is that postAuthentication() relies on internal state that is only set during the authenticate() phase, which is skipped entirely for pre-authenticated users. In any() mode, the absence of this state causes the method to fall through without delegating scope checks to any handler. In all() mode, scope checks are unconditionally skipped. This allows a user with a valid token but insufficient scopes to access resources protected by scope requirements, provided they were authenticated by an earlier handler in the pipeline. The most common trigger is overlapping authentication handlers on nested routes, where a parent route authenticates broadly and a child route uses a chain to enforce specific scopes. The impacted component Maven coordinate is io.vertx:vertx-web
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
eclipse
Published
Updated
Oct 19, 2026, 2:14 PM
Reserved
Sep 29, 2026, 8:23 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Oct 14, 2026, 7:17 PM
Modified
Oct 20, 2026, 6:19 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Oct 14, 2026, 6:36 PM