A SAML authentication bypass vulnerability affects the Kong SAML plugin when the validate_assertion_signature option is explicitly set to false. This option is enabled by default. When disabled, the plugin may extract the SAML identity from an unsigned assertion and authenticate the user without verifying a valid cryptographic signature.



As a result, an unauthenticated remote attacker may be able to submit a crafted SAML response and impersonate arbitrary users, including administrators

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact None

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact None

Vulnerable System Availability Impact None

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact High

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

No CVSS v3.1

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Exploitation none

Automatable yes

Technical Impact partial

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
Kong Kong Enterprise Gateway unaffected
Version Status Constraints
3.15.0.0 affected < 3.15.0.3
3.14.0.0 affected < 3.14.0.12
3.13.0.0 affected < 3.13.0.9
3.12.0.0 affected < 3.12.0.10
3.10.0.0 affected < 3.10.0.17
3.4.0.0 affected < 3.4.3.29

No data.

No data.

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Vendors Products
Kong Subscribe
Kong Enterprise Gateway Subscribe

Project Subscriptions

Vendors Products
Kong Subscribe
Kong Enterprise Gateway Subscribe
Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://developer.konghq.com/gateway/changelog/#3-15-0-3 cve-icon cve-icon
History

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 06:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Kong
Kong kong Enterprise Gateway
Vendors & Products Kong
Kong kong Enterprise Gateway

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A SAML authentication bypass vulnerability affects the Kong SAML plugin when the validate_assertion_signature option is explicitly set to false. This option is enabled by default. When disabled, the plugin may extract the SAML identity from an unsigned assertion and authenticate the user without verifying a valid cryptographic signature. As a result, an unauthenticated remote attacker may be able to submit a crafted SAML response and impersonate arbitrary users, including administrators
Title Kong API Gateway Enterprise: SAML Authentication bypass
Weaknesses CWE-288
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Kong

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-16T13:26:06.116Z

Reserved: 2026-07-07T07:14:57.290Z

Link: CVE-2026-14917

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-16T13:26:01.470Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-16T10:16:48.373

Modified: 2026-09-16T14:17:04.653

Link: CVE-2026-14917

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-17T06:00:08Z

Weaknesses