GHSA-wxg7-w2v3-w38g CVE-2026-56664 GO-2026-5732
ZITADEL: Missing Token Lifecyle Validation (`exp` and `iat`) in JWT IdP Provider
- Severity
- 4.2 / 10
- Medium · CVSS 3.1
- Exploit chance (EPSS)
- 0.32%
- Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Higher than 24.83% of scored vulnerabilities.
- Known exploited
- No
- Not in CISA's catalog
- Weakness
- CWE-613 Insufficient Session Expiration
- Fix
1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260615122908-fad02c6d9f45- Upgrade github.com/zitadel/zitadel to this version or later
Description
Summary
A token lifecycle validation vulnerability was discovered in ZITADEL's external JWT Identity Provider (IdP) implementation.
ZITADEL enforces a 1-hour maximum token age freshness window (maxAge) calculated from the token's issue time. However, this safety check is guarded by a presence condition. If an incoming token omits the iat claim, the freshness check is entirely bypassed, allowing arbitrarily old tokens to pass authentication successfully.
Per the OIDC Core 1.0 specification, identity token validation pipelines must strictly handle and enforce session expiration. ZITADEL's silent acceptance of tokens missing these temporal constraints compromises session integrity.
Impact
An attacker in possession of a stale token lacking an iat claim can reuse it indefinitely without triggering the maximum age freshness invalidation.
Affected Versions
Systems running one of the following versions are affected:
- 4.x:
4.0.0through4.15.1(including RC versions) - 3.x:
3.0.0through3.4.11(including RC versions)
Patches
The vulnerability has been addressed in the latest releases. ZITADEL now explicitly rejects tokens that lack an iat claim.
Workarounds
The recommended solution is to update ZITADEL to a patched version.
If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, ensure at the upstream Identity Provider level that your external IdP explicitly includes the iat claim in all signed JWTs.
Publication Note
This advisory covers a subset of the security issues originally published on ZITADEL's registry under this tracking ID. To adhere strictly to CVE formatting standards regarding independently fixable flaws, the original "Token Lifecycle Validation" disclosure has been split into two granular entries. This entry specifically tracks the missing iat claim logic, while a separate companion entry tracks the missing exp claim logic: GHSA-v77h-2w3m-94hx
Questions
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, please email us at security@zitadel.com
Credits
Thanks to Android-Login-Analysis, Jason Zhou and Pedro Giglioti for reporting this vulnerability.
Affected versions
Go
| Package | Vulnerable | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| github.com/zitadel/zitadel | < 1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260615122908-fad02c6d9f45 |
1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260615122908-fad02c6d9f45 |
How to fix
Move to the fixed version or later with your package manager, update the lockfile, and run your tests. If the package only arrives through another dependency, upgrade that dependency first. If none of its releases pulls a fixed version yet, force the version with your package manager's override.
github.com/zitadel/zitadel Go → 1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260615122908-fad02c6d9f45
- go
go get github.com/zitadel/zitadel@v1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260615122908-fad02c6d9f45 && go mod tidy
Severity breakdown
CVSS 3.1 4.2
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- High
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- None
Weakness
CWE-613: Insufficient Session Expiration
According to WASC, "Insufficient Session Expiration is when a web site permits an attacker to reuse old session credentials or session IDs for authorization."
How to prevent it
- Implementation: Set sessions/credentials expiration date.
References
Advisories
Packages
Other links
- github.com/zitadel/zitadel/security/advisories/GHSA-wxg7-w2v3-w38g
- github.com/zitadel/zitadel/commit/4925fab849d39a88674485d937b79e54318b48a8
- github.com/zitadel/zitadel/commit/d1c3aa84af8fcb0f33910ada30b866f4afb551ac
- github.com/zitadel/zitadel/commit/fad02c6d9f4587956f830d4536c64a9a94baa7ac
- github.com/zitadel/zitadel/releases/tag/v3.4.12
- github.com/zitadel/zitadel/releases/tag/v4.15.2
Timeline
- Published
- Last updated by the source
- Latest EPSS score
Related advisories
| Advisory | Severity | Why it's related |
|---|---|---|
| GHSA-fgmf-7rf8-m6vf ZITADEL: Actions V1 sandbox escape: host file read via require() | High | Also affects github.com/zitadel/zitadel |
| GHSA-9993-rfwp-rhwf ZITADEL: MFA bypass via session reuse in Login V2 | High | Also affects github.com/zitadel/zitadel |
| GHSA-v859-c572-qh5p ZITADEL: Improper Role Revocation on Granted Projects during Multiple Role Deletions | Medium | Also affects github.com/zitadel/zitadel |
| GHSA-jq8w-8q2f-ffm9 ZITADEL Users Can Self-Verify Email/Phone via API | High | Also affects github.com/zitadel/zitadel |
| GHSA-vrh8-c9cm-wh8v ZITADEL: Unauthorized Token Privilege Escalation in OAuth2 Token Exchange | High | Also affects github.com/zitadel/zitadel |
| GHSA-992q-9gwp-7r79 ZITADEL: Auto-linking by email: IdP-side email verification is not checked | Medium | Also affects github.com/zitadel/zitadel |
| GHSA-v77h-2w3m-94hx ZITADEL: Missing Token Expiration (`exp`) Validation in JWT IdP Provider | Medium | Also affects github.com/zitadel/zitadel |
| GHSA-g5h5-m4hm-xjrr ZITADEL: Missing Token Audience Validation (`aud`) in JWT IdP Provider | Medium | Also affects github.com/zitadel/zitadel |
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