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CVE-2026-78623: Okta Access Gateway: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command

CVE-2026-78623 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.9 and affects Okta Access Gateway. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

The Okta Access Gateway does not sanitize SAML assertion values before interpolating them into database queries in the advanced mode datastore configuration. The unsanitized values are substituted directly into the query string prior to preparation, resulting in unintended SQL execution against the configured backend database.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.9: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: Low. A basic user account is enough.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Changed. Impact reaches beyond the vulnerable component to other resources.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command

The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.

Affected products

  • Okta Access Gateway: before 2026.9.1

References