# CVE-2026-111261: Jakarta Security LDAP identity store empty password authentication bypass

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111261-the-jakarta-security-ldap-identity-store-accepts-an-empty  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-10. Updated: 2026-11-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-111261 · Severity: info · Published 2026-11-10

Jakarta Security's LDAP identity store component, which manages user authentication against directory servers, accepts empty passwords as valid when the directory server permits unauthenticated binds. An attacker can authenticate as any existing user without knowing their password, bypassing security controls and gaining unauthorized account access.

Technologies: [Apache Jakarta Security](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/jakarta-security). Vendors: [Apache](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/apache).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-111261 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-111261 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-111261?** Informational severity, published 10 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Apache Jakarta Security before 10.3.0 and before 11.0.0-M2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-111261?** Yes: fixed in 10.3.0, 11.0.0-M2. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-111261 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-111261?** Check whether you run Apache Jakarta Security at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 10.3.0, 11.0.0-M2

## Technical details

The vulnerability exists in the LDAP identity store's password validation logic. When a directory server allows unauthenticated binds (a common default configuration), supplying an empty password succeeds, enabling account takeover. The flaw is a logic error in authentication handling that fails to reject empty passwords before attempting the bind operation.

## Affected products

- Apache Jakarta Security before 10.3.0 and before 11.0.0-M2

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10: disclosed

## References

- [https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2](https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2)
- [https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8dfmrhg064j5btmfs3mwclnw88bdqrt7](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/8dfmrhg064j5btmfs3mwclnw88bdqrt7)

## Related threats

- [Jakarta Security OpenID Connect weak random number generation in state and nonce](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111260-the-jakarta-security-openid-connect-authentication-mechanism)
- [Jakarta Security LDAP identity store LDAP injection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111262-the-jakarta-security-ldap-identity-store-does-not-neutralize)