CVE-2023-48223Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Token forgery via RSA public-key misclassification

Published Nov 20, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

JWT algorithm confusion in Nearform fast-jwt before 3.3.2 allows remote attackers to forge accepted tokens with arbitrary payloads. The publicKeyPemMatcher misses BEGIN RSA PUBLIC KEY, so key detection treats the RSA public key as an HMAC secret and permits HS256. Exploitation requires RS256, that PKCS#1 header, an unspecified verifier algorithm, and the public key; accepted attacker-chosen claims can bypass application authorization.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

JWT algorithm confusion in Nearform fast-jwt before 3.3.2 allows remote attackers to forge accepted tokens with arbitrary payloads. The publicKeyPemMatcher misses BEGIN RSA PUBLIC KEY, so key detection treats the RSA public key as an HMAC secret and permits HS256. Exploitation requires RS256, that PKCS#1 header, an unspecified verifier algorithm, and the public key; accepted attacker-chosen claims can bypass application authorization.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-48223
Published
Nov 20, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Nearform
Product
fast-jwt
Classifications
CWE-20, T1550.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 3.3.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Nearform · fast-jwtversion=< 3.3.2

Published CVSS scores

5.9GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1550.001Use Alternate Authentication Material: Application Access Token

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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