Authentication bypass via JWT algorithm confusion
Published Sep 16, 2026 · Updated Sep 16, 2026
JWT verification in Kong Gateway Enterprise allows remote attackers to bypass authentication with forged tokens in affected releases. The jwt_verify node accepts a symmetric algorithm with an asymmetric PEM verification key, letting the public key serve as an HMAC shared secret. Exploitation requires MCP OAuth2 or DataKit JWT validation with a PEM key string and allowed_algorithms unset; successful forgery grants the protected access assigned to the impersonated identity.
Summary
What happened
JWT verification in Kong Gateway Enterprise allows remote attackers to bypass authentication with forged tokens in affected releases. The jwt_verify node accepts a symmetric algorithm with an asymmetric PEM verification key, letting the public key serve as an HMAC shared secret. Exploitation requires MCP OAuth2 or DataKit JWT validation with a PEM key string and allowed_algorithms unset; successful forgery grants the protected access assigned to the impersonated identity.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-14916
- Published
- Sep 16, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 16, 2026
- Vendor
- Kong Inc.
- Product
- Kong Gateway Enterprise
- Classifications
- T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 16, 2026Record 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=3.10.0.0 <3.10.0.17
- Affected versionversion=3.12.0.0 <3.12.0.10
- Affected versionversion=3.13.0.0 <3.13.0.9
- Affected versionversion=3.14.0.0 <3.14.0.12
- Affected versionversion=3.15.0.0 <3.15.0.3
- Affected versionversion=3.4.0.0 <3.4.3.29
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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