Token forgery via asymmetric-key algorithm confusion
Published Jun 9, 2024 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
JWT signature verification in Authlib before 1.3.1 allows remote attackers to forge tokens by substituting HMAC for an asymmetric algorithm. When jwt.decode receives no algorithm allowlist, OctKey.import_key accepts a PEM or SSH public key as an HMAC secret and trusts the token's alg header. An application must decode attacker-supplied JWTs without specifying algorithms; accepted forged claims can bypass authentication or authorization.
Summary
What happened
JWT signature verification in Authlib before 1.3.1 allows remote attackers to forge tokens by substituting HMAC for an asymmetric algorithm. When jwt.decode receives no algorithm allowlist, OctKey.import_key accepts a PEM or SSH public key as an HMAC secret and trusts the token's alg header. An application must decode attacker-supplied JWTs without specifying algorithms; accepted forged claims can bypass authentication or authorization.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-37568
- Published
- Jun 9, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- Authlib
- Product
- Authlib
- Classifications
- CWE-347, CWE-284, CWE-327, T1606
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 9, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <1.3.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Authlib JWT algorithm-confusion proof of conceptproof of concept · unverified
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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