Improper Authentication Validation in Okta Access Gateway Pass-Through Authentication Source CVE-2026-78560 - Sep 8, 2026

Description

The Okta Access Gateway includes an optional pass-through authentication source that accepts user identity from a client-supplied HTTP header without cryptographic validation. In architectures where this optional source is enabled without an upstream reverse proxy or firewall configured to sanitize and enforce client headers, an unauthenticated user can supply an arbitrary identity value to initiate a session.

Affected product and versions

Customers using Okta Access Gateway appliance versions prior to 2026.9.1 are affected.

Preconditions

This applies if the following preconditions are present:

1. An administrator has explicitly enabled the pass-through authentication source module and configured it for one or more protected applications,

2. The deployment architecture does not include an upstream reverse proxy or network appliance configured to strip or overwrite the configured identity header before requests reach the Access Gateway.

Customer Recommendations

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade the Okta Access Gateway appliance to version 2026.9.1 or greater.

Resolution

The vulnerability is present in the Okta Access Gateway appliance versions prior to 2026.9.1 and is resolved in version 2026.9.1.

CVE details

References

Download the Okta Access Gateway image