Quick answer
Direct answer
Risk scores
| CVSS metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Attack vector (AV:N) | Network: reachable remotely |
| Attack complexity (AC:H) | High complexity |
| Privileges required (PR:H) | High privileges required |
| User interaction (UI:N) | No user interaction |
| Scope (S:C) | Scope changed: impact spreads beyond the component |
| Confidentiality (C:H) | High confidentiality impact |
| Integrity (I:H) | High integrity impact |
| Availability (A:L) | Low availability impact |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L
About Openstack Keystone
CVE-2026-43001 affects Openstack Keystone, a product from Openstack. Before acting, confirm where Openstack Keystone runs in your estate, who owns it and whether it is reachable from the internet, because exposure decides real risk more than the score alone.
What the flaw is
In plain terms: An issue was discovered in OpenStack Keystone before 29.0.2. POST /v3/credentials did not validate that the caller-supplied project_id for an EC2-type credential matched the project of the authenticating application credential. This allowed an attacker holding an unrestricted application credential for project A to create an EC2 credential targeting project B; a subsequent /v3/ec2tokens exchange would then issue a Keystone token scoped to project B while still carrying the original app_cred_id, enabling cross-project lateral movement within the credential owner's role footprint.
The weakness class is Incorrect Authorization. The permission check exists but gets the answer wrong.
Based on its CVSS vector, the flaw can be reached over the network, needs some level of access, and needs no user interaction. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.
Affected versions and timeline
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Openstack Keystone |
| Affected versions | Keystone from 14.0.0 before 27.0.2; Keystone from 28.0.0 before 28.0.2; Keystone from 29.0.0 before 29.0.2 |
| Published | May 1, 2026 |
| Last modified | Aug 14, 2026 |
| Added to CISA KEV | Not listed |
| Assigning CNA | cve@mitre.org |
How to detect it
- Inventory every instance of Openstack Keystone and record the running version against the affected range above.
- Check external attack surface scans for internet facing instances of the component.
- Review logs on affected systems for unusual requests, errors or new processes around the vulnerable function.
- Confirm with an authenticated vulnerability scan once your scanner has a check for this CVE.
How to fix it
- Apply the fixed version of Openstack Keystone named in the vendor advisory.
- If patching must wait, restrict network access to the affected service and put it behind authentication or a web application firewall rule.
- Rescan after the change to prove the exposure is gone, then close the ticket.
CTEM action plan
| CTEM stage | What to do for this CVE |
|---|---|
| Scope | Add every business service that depends on Openstack Keystone to the current CTEM cycle. |
| Discover | Find all instances, including shadow and cloud deployments, and record versions and exposure. |
| Prioritize | Rank using EPSS and CVSS together with asset exposure and business impact. |
| Validate | Confirm the flaw is reachable and exploitable in your environment and that compensating controls work. |
| Mobilize | Assign the fix to the asset owner with a due date matched to the priority, then verify closure. |
CWE References
- CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization More CVEs with this weakness
- CWE-1288 More CVEs with this weakness
Technical References
Frequently asked questions
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