CVE-2026-40542: CWE-304: Missing Critical Step in Authentication in Apache Software Foundation Apache HttpClient
CVE-2026-40542 is a vulnerability in Apache HttpClient version 5. 6 where a critical step in the SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication process is missing. This flaw allows the client to accept authentication without proper mutual verification, potentially undermining the authentication mechanism. The Apache Software Foundation recommends upgrading to version 5. 6. 1 to address this issue. No known exploits are reported in the wild. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-304, indicating a missing critical authentication step. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the advisory, but an upgrade to 5. 6.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
Apache HttpClient 5.6 contains a vulnerability (CVE-2026-40542) due to a missing critical step in the SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication process. This omission causes the client to accept authentication without proper mutual authentication verification, which could weaken the security of the authentication protocol. The issue is fixed in Apache HttpClient version 5.6.1, which users are recommended to upgrade to. No CVSS score is provided, and no known exploits have been reported.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass proper mutual authentication verification in the SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication mechanism when using Apache HttpClient 5.6. This could potentially lead to unauthorized access or impersonation if exploited. However, no known exploits in the wild have been reported to date.
Mitigation Recommendations
Users should upgrade Apache HttpClient from version 5.6 to version 5.6.1, which addresses this authentication flaw. Since the vendor advisory recommends this upgrade, applying this update is the primary mitigation. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed beyond this recommendation, so users should consult the official Apache advisory for the latest remediation details.
CVE-2026-40542: CWE-304: Missing Critical Step in Authentication in Apache Software Foundation Apache HttpClient
Description
CVE-2026-40542 is a vulnerability in Apache HttpClient version 5. 6 where a critical step in the SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication process is missing. This flaw allows the client to accept authentication without proper mutual verification, potentially undermining the authentication mechanism. The Apache Software Foundation recommends upgrading to version 5. 6. 1 to address this issue. No known exploits are reported in the wild. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-304, indicating a missing critical authentication step. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the advisory, but an upgrade to 5. 6.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
Apache HttpClient 5.6 contains a vulnerability (CVE-2026-40542) due to a missing critical step in the SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication process. This omission causes the client to accept authentication without proper mutual authentication verification, which could weaken the security of the authentication protocol. The issue is fixed in Apache HttpClient version 5.6.1, which users are recommended to upgrade to. No CVSS score is provided, and no known exploits have been reported.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass proper mutual authentication verification in the SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication mechanism when using Apache HttpClient 5.6. This could potentially lead to unauthorized access or impersonation if exploited. However, no known exploits in the wild have been reported to date.
Mitigation Recommendations
Users should upgrade Apache HttpClient from version 5.6 to version 5.6.1, which addresses this authentication flaw. Since the vendor advisory recommends this upgrade, applying this update is the primary mitigation. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed beyond this recommendation, so users should consult the official Apache advisory for the latest remediation details.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- apache
- Date Reserved
- 2026-04-14T09:11:14.268Z
- Cvss Version
- null
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 69e87cbe19fe3cd2cd7bf96a
Added to database: 4/22/2026, 7:46:06 AM
Last enriched: 4/22/2026, 8:01:33 AM
Last updated: 4/22/2026, 9:53:50 AM
Views: 11
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