Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-4918

Redhat Keycloak 22.0.2

Published
12 September 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0047 38th percentile
Risk Priority 64 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-4918 is a high-severity Plaintext Storage of a Password (CWE-256) vulnerability in Redhat Keycloak. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Credentials In Files (T1552.001); ranked at the 38th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A flaw was found in the Keycloak package, more specifically org.keycloak.userprofile. When a user registers itself through registration flow, the "password" and "password-confirm" field from the form will occur as regular user attributes. All users and clients with proper rights…

more

and roles are able to read users attributes, allowing a malicious user with minimal access to retrieve the users passwords in clear text, jeopardizing their environment.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
T1040 Network Sniffing Credential Access
Adversaries may passively sniff network traffic to capture information about an environment, including authentication material passed over the network.
T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-5416Same product: Redhat Keycloak
CVE-2025-7365Same product: Redhat Keycloak
CVE-2024-1722Same product: Redhat Keycloak
CVE-2025-8419Same product: Redhat Keycloak
CVE-2024-3623Same vendor: Redhat
CVE-2024-3622Same vendor: Redhat
CVE-2023-0105Same product: Redhat Keycloak
CVE-2023-6787Same product: Redhat Keycloak
CVE-2023-6927Same product: Redhat Keycloak
CVE-2023-6841Same product: Redhat Keycloak

Affected Assets

redhat
keycloak
22.0.2

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-319

Role-based training covers secure transmission methods, mitigating cleartext transmission of sensitive data.

addresses: CWE-319

By requiring documented security controls for information exchanges, the control reduces the risk of cleartext transmission of sensitive data.

addresses: CWE-319

Mapping transmission actions in data flows helps prevent cleartext transmission of sensitive information.

addresses: CWE-319

Settings can enforce secure transmission protocols to prevent cleartext transmission of sensitive data.

addresses: CWE-319

Policy addresses secure transport and handling of media to avoid cleartext transmission of sensitive information.

addresses: CWE-319

Enforces safeguards against cleartext transmission of CUI when data leaves organizational boundaries to external systems.

addresses: CWE-319

Explicit controls and continuous oversight on external system services prevent cleartext transmission of sensitive information over provider-managed channels.

addresses: CWE-319

Key-establishment procedures specify secure distribution channels that preclude cleartext transmission of key material.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.DS-02 full match
prevents

Encryption of data-in-transit directly prevents cleartext transmission while the control also addresses integrity and availability.

PR.DS-01 mostly match
prevents

Encryption and hashing of data-at-rest directly prevent plaintext password storage in files.

PR.AA-01 partial match
prevents

Credential management practices normally include secure storage requirements for passwords.

PR.DS-10 partial match
prevents

Protecting data-in-use can limit exposure of passwords held in memory.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

degrades

Directly requires secure handling and protection of authentication information, preventing plaintext password storage.

prevents

Specifying encryption and other security technology for network services prevents transmission of sensitive information in cleartext over potentially untrusted channels.

prevents

Requires use of cryptography to protect sensitive data such as passwords at rest.

prevents

Mandating cryptographic protection and stronger authentication on public networks stops the transmission of plaintext sensitive information.

mitigates

Specifying communications-security requirements and secure remote-access methods (including encryption expectations) prevents the transmission of sensitive data in cleartext over home or public networks.

mitigates

Armoured conduits, electromagnetic shielding and locked enclosures make passive eavesdropping on unencrypted traffic traversing the cables more difficult, mitigating exposure of sensitive data in transit.

References