CVE-2026-33557

Apache Kafka: Missing JWT token validation in OAUTHBEARER authentication

Published Apr 20, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.1 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A possible security vulnerability has been identified in Apache Kafka.

By default, the broker property `sasl.oauthbearer.jwt.validator.class` is set to `org.apache.kafka.common.security.oauthbearer.DefaultJwtValidator`. It accepts any JWT token without validating its signature, issuer, or audience. An attacker can generate a JWT token from any issuer with the `preferred_username` set to any user, and the broker will accept it.

We advise the Kafka users using kafka v4.1.0 or v4.1.1 to set the config `sasl.oauthbearer.jwt.validator.class` to `org.apache.kafka.common.security.oauthbearer.BrokerJwtValidator` explicitly to avoid this vulnerability. Since Kafka v4.1.2 and v4.2.0 and later, the issue is fixed and will correctly validate the JWT token.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-28jg-cgg7-j4wc Apache Kafka does not validate JWT tokens in its OAUTHBEARER authentication implementation
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:apache:kafka:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apache
Apache kafka
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache kafka
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A possible security vulnerability has been identified in Apache Kafka. By default, the broker property `sasl.oauthbearer.jwt.validator.class` is set to `org.apache.kafka.common.security.oauthbearer.DefaultJwtValidator`. It accepts any JWT token without validating its signature, issuer, or audience. An attacker can generate a JWT token from any issuer with the `preferred_username` set to any user, and the broker will accept it. We advise the Kafka users using kafka v4.1.0 or v4.1.1 to set the config `sasl.oauthbearer.jwt.validator.class` to `org.apache.kafka.common.security.oauthbearer.BrokerJwtValidator` explicitly to avoid this vulnerability. Since Kafka v4.1.2 and v4.2.0 and later, the issue is fixed and will correctly validate the JWT token.
Title Apache Kafka: Missing JWT token validation in OAUTHBEARER authentication
Weaknesses CWE-1285
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
apache
Published
Updated
Jul 15, 2026, 1:06 AM
Reserved
Mar 23, 2026, 3:14 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Apr 20, 2026, 2:16 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 10:10 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Apr 20, 2026, 1:28 PM