# CVE-2026-101296: Apache Tomcat: JNDIRealm bind credential validation fails open for non-GSSAPI SASL mechanisms


- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Oct 2026
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** BIT-tomcat-2026-101296, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-101296, GHSA-5q2g-877c-9cwh, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-101296

## What is CVE-2026-101296?

CVE-2026-101296 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 20 Oct 2026. 

### Official description

A missing critical step in authentication vulnerability in Apache Tomcat when the JNDI realm was configured with with a non GSSAPI SASL authentication mechanism allowed attackers to authenticate without providing the correct password.

This issue affects Apache Tomcat: from 11.0.0-M1 through 11.0.26, from 10.1.0-M1 through 10.1.60, from 9.0.0.M1 through 9.0.122.

The following versions were EOL at the time the CVE was created but are known to be affected: from 8.5.0 through 8.5.100, from 7.0.0 through 7.0.109. Other unsupported versions may also be affected.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 11.0.27, 10.1.61 or 9.0.123, which fix the issue.

Weakness: CWE-304 (Missing Critical Step in Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-101296?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including tomcat.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `tomcat` | Bitnami | From 7.0.0 | 9.0.123, 10.1.61, 11.0.27 |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-101296?

Upgrade tomcat to a fixed version for your release line: 9.0.123, 10.1.61 or 11.0.27.

## Is CVE-2026-101296 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-101296 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-101296 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-101296 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Tomcat, published on 20 Oct 2026. 
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-101296 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- tomcat (Bitnami): affected from 7.0.0; fixed in 9.0.123, 10.1.61, 11.0.27

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-101296/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-101296/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-101296
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-101296
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-101296

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-101296/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.