# CVE-2026-61466: Apache CXF: OAuth2 Dynamic Client Registration Scope Self-Escalation

> Attackers can self-assign privileged scopes during OAuth2 client registration due to missing validation, requiring an upgrade to Apache CXF.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pwwh-3685-58r7

## What is CVE-2026-61466?

CVE-2026-61466 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Cxf, published on 6 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Apache CXF's OAuth2 Dynamic Client Registration endpoint, the authorization server accepts and stores the `scope` value supplied in the client registration request verbatim, without validating it against an AS-defined allowlist. This could lead to a client self-assigning privileged scopes at registration time. Users are recommended to upgrade to versions 4.2.3 or 4.1.8 or 3.6.12, which fix this issue.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-61466?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apache Cxf.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-61466?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2026-61466 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-61466 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Cxf

- [CVE-2012-2379](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2379/): XML Signature/Encryption Not Validated in Apache CXF (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-66909](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-66909/): Apache CXF: Unsafe deserialization of inbound JMS ObjectMessage (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-68079](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68079/): Apache CXF: DefaultEncryptingCodeDataProvider allows unlimited authorization code replay (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-50628](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-50628/): Apache CXF: OAuth2: Inverted IP Binding Check Defeats Security Control (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-48913](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48913/): Apache CXF: Untrusted JMS configuration can lead to RCE (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-61466 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-61466 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Cxf, published on 6 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-61466 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apache Cxf. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2026-61466/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-61466/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-61466
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-61466
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-61466

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-61466/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.