GHSA-9rhm-2h4x-jwmx
A2A Java SDK send client credentials under server-controlled HTTP header name, enabling leakage via redirect
Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | org.a2aproject.sdk:a2a-java-sdk-parent | < 1.3.0.Final | 1.3.0.Final |
Details
As written in the advisory (Markdown source, shown as plain text).
*Impact.** A malicious or compromised A2A agent can cause the client's API key credential to be forwarded to an arbitrary third-party server. The agent serves an AgentCard with an `APIKeySecurityScheme` specifying a custom header name, then responds with an HTTP redirect. The JDK HttpClient follows the redirect and forwards the custom header containing the credential, since only the standard `Authorization` header may be stripped on cross-origin redirects.
**Where.** `client/transport/spi/src/main/java/org/a2aproject/sdk/client/transport/spi/interceptors/auth/AuthInterceptor.java:69` in `intercept`
**What.** The `apiKeySecurityScheme.name()` field from the remote agent's AgentCard (untrusted, server-controlled data) is used directly as the HTTP header name when placing client credentials. Combined with `JdkA2AHttpClient`'s `followRedirects(NORMAL)` policy, credentials under custom header names survive cross-origin redirects (only `Authorization` is stripped on newer JDKs), allowing a malicious agent to leak client credentials to third-party servers. Additionally, `AuthInterceptor` does not check that `location==HEADER` before placing the credential as a header.
**Exploit scenario.** Client configures an API key credential for agent's security scheme `myAuth`. The malicious agent returns an AgentCard where `securitySchemes` includes `myAuth` as `APIKeySecurityScheme` with `name='X-Leaked-Cred'` and `location=HEADER`. `AuthInterceptor` places the credential in the `X-Leaked-Cred` header. The agent responds with HTTP 302 redirect to `https://evil.com/collect`. `JdkA2AHttpClient` follows the redirect, forwarding all custom headers including `X-Leaked-Cred` to `evil.com`. The attacker captures the client's credential.
**Preconditions.**
- Client application has configured API key credentials via `CredentialService` for the agent's security scheme
- The agent is malicious or compromised (controls its own AgentCard response)
- The default `JdkA2AHttpClient` is used (with `followRedirects=NORMAL`)
- The JDK version does not strip custom headers on cross-origin redirects (all current versions)
**Fix.** Validate the `APIKeySecurityScheme.name()` field against a whitelist of safe header names. Check that `apiKeySecurityScheme.location()` equals `Location.HEADER` before placing the credential as a header. Consider using `followRedirects(NEVER)` and implementing manual redirect handling that strips all authentication headers on cross-origin redirects.
**Verification.** 2/3 lens verifiers confirmed.
References
External links from the advisory. They lead to third-party sites.
- https://github.com/a2aproject/a2a-java/security/advisories/GHSA-4fpj-g9jf-9rgg
- https://github.com/a2aproject/a2a-java/security/advisories/GHSA-9rhm-2h4x-jwmx
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-111763
- https://github.com/a2aproject/a2a-java/pull/1097
- https://github.com/a2aproject/a2a-java/commit/2a36530d75e11bcf9b81f543464dbe193ca6478e
- https://github.com/a2aproject/a2a-java
- https://github.com/a2aproject/a2a-java/releases/tag/v1.3.0.Final