Authentication bypass via unmarked OCSP processing failures
Published Apr 9, 2026 · Updated Apr 9, 2026
Improper authentication in Apache Tomcat allows remote attackers to bypass CLIENT_CERT checks when OCSP validation returns an error. OpenSSLEngine.processOCSPRequest returns an unknown certificate status for responder and request-processing failures without setting the X509 store error, so the FFM path accepts the TLS handshake. Reachability requires CLIENT_CERT authentication through the OpenSSL FFM integration, OCSP enabled, soft fail disabled, and an OCSP failure; successful bypass exposes protected application data and actions.
Summary
What happened
Improper authentication in Apache Tomcat allows remote attackers to bypass CLIENT_CERT checks when OCSP validation returns an error. OpenSSLEngine.processOCSPRequest returns an unknown certificate status for responder and request-processing failures without setting the X509 store error, so the FFM path accepts the TLS handshake. Reachability requires CLIENT_CERT authentication through the OpenSSL FFM integration, OCSP enabled, soft fail disabled, and an OCSP failure; successful bypass exposes protected application data and actions.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-34500
- Published
- Apr 9, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 9, 2026
- Vendor
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Product
- Apache Tomcat
- Classifications
- CWE-287, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 9, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 9, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=10.1.22 <=10.1.53
- Affected versionversion=11.0.0-M14 <=11.0.20
- Affected versionversion=9.0.92 <=9.0.116
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.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo