# CVE-2026-78579: Okta Access Gateway LDAP injection in datastore filter

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-78579-okta-access-gateway-ldap-injection-in-datastore-filter  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-08. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-78579 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.8 · Published 2026-09-08

Okta Access Gateway is an identity management appliance that authenticates users and authorizes access to corporate applications. The appliance fails to sanitize SAML assertion attributes before using them in LDAP directory lookups, allowing attackers to manipulate LDAP queries and potentially access unauthorized user records or modify authentication logic.

Technologies: [Okta Access Gateway](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/access-gateway). Vendors: [Okta](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/okta).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-78579 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-78579 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-78579?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.8, published 8 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Okta Access Gateway prior to 2026.9.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-78579?** A patch was published on 2026-09-08: Version 2026.9.1 and later contains fix Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-78579 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-78579?** Check whether you run Okta Access Gateway 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.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is LDAP injection (CWE-90) in the LDAP datastore filter interpolation component. When an administrator configures an LDAP search filter template that references SAML assertion attributes, the Access Gateway directly interpolates attribute values into the LDAP filter string without sanitization. An attacker who controls a SAML attribute value (e.g., through a compromised IdP or by influencing its contents) can inject LDAP filter syntax to modify query logic. Attack requires authenticated user with control over SAML attributes and an LDAP datastore configured with interpolated search filters. Successful exploitation allows query logic modification, potentially leading to unauthorized directory access or authentication bypass. The vulnerability is resolved in version 2026.9.1 and later.

## Affected products

- Okta Access Gateway prior to 2026.9.1

## Timeline

- 2026-09-08: disclosed
- 2026-09-08: patched: Version 2026.9.1 and later contains fix

## References

- [https://trust.okta.com/security-advisories/improper-input-sanitization-in-okta-access-gateway-ldap-datastore-filter-interpolation-cve-2026-78579](https://trust.okta.com/security-advisories/improper-input-sanitization-in-okta-access-gateway-ldap-datastore-filter-interpolation-cve-2026-78579)

## Related threats

- [Okta Access Gateway command execution in Admin Console](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115547-an-input-validation-issue-in-the-okta-access-gateway-oag-admin)
- [Okta Access Gateway authentication source validation bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115546-okta-access-gateway-oag-does-not-validate-the-selected)
- [Okta Access Gateway OS command injection in SNMP configuration](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-78630-okta-access-gateway-os-command-injection-in-snmp-configuration)
- [Okta Access Gateway authorization bypass in Protected Rules](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-78626-okta-access-gateway-authorization-bypass-in-protected-rules)
- [Okta Access Gateway code injection in dashboard labels](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-78625-okta-access-gateway-code-injection-in-dashboard-labels)