fast-jwt: createVerifier accepts unsigned JWTs when key is '' or null and algorithms is explicitly set

fast-jwt provides fast JSON Web Token (JWT) implementation. Prior to 6.3.1, fast-jwt createVerifier accepts an unsigned JWT when key is an empty string or null and algorithms is a non-empty allowlist. Falsy synchronous keys bypass prepareKeyOrSecret, allowedAlgorithms remains active, hasKey is false, and the empty signature avoids the verifySignature gate. An attacker can therefore submit a token containing arbitrary claims without possessing a signing key, resulting in authentication or authorization bypass. Claim validators still run, and non-empty keys, an empty key without algorithms, and the async key resolver path do not have this behavior. This issue is fixed in version 6.3.1.

Source published

8 Oct 2026 21:44:06 UTC

Source modified

9 Oct 2026 14:32:14 UTC

Observed here

23 Oct 2026 15:48:27 UTC

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CVSS 3.1 · 7.4 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N