Summary
In OpenStack Keystone before 28.0.1, the LDAP identity backend does not convert the user enabled attribute to a boolean when the user_enabled_invert configuration option is False (the default). The _ldap_res_to_model method in the UserApi class only performed string-to-boolean conversion when user_enabled_invert was True. When False, the raw string value from LDAP (e.g., "FALSE") was used directly. Since non-empty strings are truthy in Python, users marked as disabled in LDAP were treated as enabled by Keystone, allowing them to authenticate and perform actions. All deployments using the LDAP identity backend without user_enabled_invert=True or user_enabled_emulation are affected.
Impact
An object is accessed using a type that is incompatible with its actual type, causing the runtime to interpret memory incorrectly. Typical impact: memory safety violations, unexpected behavior, or code execution.
CVE-2026-40683 has a CVSS score of 7.7 (High). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (28.0.1); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Remediation advice
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-40683? CVE-2026-40683 is a high-severity type confusion vulnerability in keystone (pip), affecting versions < 28.0.1. It is fixed in 28.0.1. An object is accessed using a type that is incompatible with its actual type, causing the runtime to interpret memory incorrectly.
- How severe is CVE-2026-40683? CVE-2026-40683 has a CVSS score of 7.7 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of keystone are affected by CVE-2026-40683? keystone (pip) versions < 28.0.1 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-40683? Yes. CVE-2026-40683 is fixed in 28.0.1. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-40683 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-40683 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-40683 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-40683? Upgrade
keystoneto 28.0.1 or later.