pedroigor · Nov 12, 2026 · Nov 10, 2026 · ssilvert · Nov 11, 2026 · ssilvert
@@ -167,6 +167,15 @@ Adding a query parameter named `login_hint` to this URL adds the parameter's val
 
 Enable the "Pass subject" option to send the subject in SAML requests.
 
+[[_identity_broker_saml_subject_confirmation]]
+==== Support for subject confirmation methods
+
+When brokering a SAML v2.0 Identity Provider, {project_name} implements the SAML V2.0 Web Browser SSO Profile, which requires the assertion to carry at least one `<SubjectConfirmation>` using the `bearer` method.
+{project_name} accepts the assertion only if a bearer confirmation is present and contains a `<SubjectConfirmationData>` element that validates, including the recipient, the `InResponseTo` value, and the validity window.
+
+{project_name} does not support a subject confirmation method other than `bearer`.
+Any other unsupported method is rejected and the login fails.
-Any other unsupported method is rejected and the login fails.
+Confirmations using any other method are ignored, and the login fails unless a valid `bearer` confirmation is also present.
-Any other unsupported method is rejected and the login fails.
+Confirmations using any other method are ignored, and the login fails unless a valid `bearer` confirmation is also present.
+
 [[_identity_broker_saml_proxy_restriction]]
 ==== Support for the ProxyRestriction condition
 

@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ The following conditions are now enforced:
 
 * The assertion's `Subject` must contain a `SubjectConfirmation` with `Method` set to Bearer, and it must carry a `SubjectConfirmationData` element. A missing `SubjectConfirmation`, or one without `SubjectConfirmationData`, is now rejected; previously it was silently ignored. If the assertion carries multiple Bearer confirmations, they are treated as alternatives and only one of them needs to validate.
 * `SubjectConfirmationData` must carry a `NotOnOrAfter` attribute.
+* Other subject confirmation methods, including holder-of-key, are not supported; an assertion without a valid bearer confirmation is rejected.
 * `SubjectConfirmationData` must carry a `Recipient` attribute matching the response's `Destination`, whenever the response specifies one.
 * For broker logins only, `SubjectConfirmationData` must carry an `InResponseTo` attribute matching the expected request ID, for SP-initiated logins.
 

@@ -1215,7 +1215,7 @@ private boolean validateSubjectConfirmationData(ResponseType responseType, Strin
                         .collect(Collectors.toList());
 
         if (bearerConfirmations.isEmpty()) {
-            return isSubjectConfirmationDataValid(assertion, null, expectedRequestId, expectedRecipient);
+            return false;
         }
 
         return bearerConfirmations.stream().anyMatch(subjectConfirmationElement ->

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import org.keycloak.tests.saml.SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient;
 import org.keycloak.tests.saml.SamlClient;
 import org.keycloak.tests.saml.SamlClientBuilder;
+import org.keycloak.tests.saml.SamlResponseDocument;
 
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
@@ -78,6 +79,55 @@ public void testRejectsBearerSubjectConfirmationWithoutRecipient() throws Except
         assertInvalidSamlResponse(this::removeRecipient);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void testHolderOfKeyOnlySubjectConfirmationIsRejected() throws Exception {
+        try (SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient broker = new SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient(getConsumerRealm(), SAML_CLIENT_ID_SALES_POST, IDP_SAML_ALIAS)) {
+            assertEquals(Response.Status.BAD_REQUEST.getStatusCode(),
+                    broker.login(getUserLogin(), getUserPassword())
+                            .onResponse(response -> response.removeSubjectConfirmations()
+                                    .addSubjectConfirmation(SamlResponseDocument.HOLDER_OF_KEY_METHOD))
+                            .submit());
+        }
+
+        assertTrue(getConsumerRealm().admin().users().search(getUserLogin(), true).isEmpty());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testUnknownSubjectConfirmationMethodIsRejected() throws Exception {
+        try (SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient broker = new SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient(getConsumerRealm(), SAML_CLIENT_ID_SALES_POST, IDP_SAML_ALIAS)) {
+            assertEquals(Response.Status.BAD_REQUEST.getStatusCode(),
+                    broker.login(getUserLogin(), getUserPassword())
+                            .onResponse(response -> response.removeSubjectConfirmations()
+                                    .addSubjectConfirmation("urn:example:unsupported"))
+                            .submit());
+        }
+
+        assertTrue(getConsumerRealm().admin().users().search(getUserLogin(), true).isEmpty());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testBearerAndHolderOfKeySubjectConfirmationIsAccepted() throws Exception {
+        try (SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient broker = new SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient(getConsumerRealm(), SAML_CLIENT_ID_SALES_POST, IDP_SAML_ALIAS)) {
+            assertEquals(Response.Status.OK.getStatusCode(),
+                    broker.login(getUserLogin(), getUserPassword())
+                            .onResponse(response -> response.addSubjectConfirmation(SamlResponseDocument.HOLDER_OF_KEY_METHOD))
+                            .submit());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testInvalidBearerAndHolderOfKeySubjectConfirmationIsRejected() throws Exception {
+        try (SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient broker = new SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient(getConsumerRealm(), SAML_CLIENT_ID_SALES_POST, IDP_SAML_ALIAS)) {
+            assertEquals(Response.Status.BAD_REQUEST.getStatusCode(),
+                    broker.login(getUserLogin(), getUserPassword())
+                            .onResponse(response -> response.expireSubjectConfirmationData(SamlResponseDocument.BEARER_METHOD)
+                                    .addSubjectConfirmation(SamlResponseDocument.HOLDER_OF_KEY_METHOD))
+                            .submit());
+        }
+
+        assertTrue(getConsumerRealm().admin().users().search(getUserLogin(), true).isEmpty());
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testProxyRestrictionRejectedByDefault() throws Exception {
         try (SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient broker = new SamlBrowserlessBrokerClient(getConsumerRealm(), SAML_CLIENT_ID_SALES_POST, IDP_SAML_ALIAS)) {

@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@
 import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets;
 import java.security.KeyPair;
 import java.security.cert.X509Certificate;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Base64;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Objects;
 
 import org.keycloak.saml.BaseSAML2BindingBuilder;
 import org.keycloak.saml.SignatureAlgorithm;
@@ -42,6 +45,10 @@ public class SamlResponseDocument {
 
     private static final String ASSERTION_NS = JBossSAMLURIConstants.ASSERTION_NSURI.get();
 
+    public static final String BEARER_METHOD = JBossSAMLURIConstants.SUBJECT_CONFIRMATION_BEARER.get();
+
+    public static final String HOLDER_OF_KEY_METHOD = JBossSAMLURIConstants.HOLDER_OF_KEY.get();
+
     private final org.w3c.dom.Document document;
 
     private SamlResponseDocument(org.w3c.dom.Document document) {
@@ -138,6 +145,50 @@ private Element getFirstAssertionSubject() {
         return subject;
     }
 
+    private List<Element> getSubjectConfirmations() {
+        NodeList nodes = getFirstAssertionSubject().getElementsByTagNameNS(ASSERTION_NS, "SubjectConfirmation");
+        List<Element> confirmations = new ArrayList<>(nodes.getLength());
+        for (int i = 0; i < nodes.getLength(); i++) {
+            confirmations.add((Element) nodes.item(i));
+        }
+        return confirmations;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Removes every {@code <saml:SubjectConfirmation>} from the assertion subject.
+     */
+    public SamlResponseDocument removeSubjectConfirmations() {
+        for (Element confirmation : getSubjectConfirmations()) {
+            confirmation.getParentNode().removeChild(confirmation);
+        }
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Appends a {@code <saml:SubjectConfirmation>} with the given {@code Method} and no
+     * {@code <saml:SubjectConfirmationData>}.
+     */
+    public SamlResponseDocument addSubjectConfirmation(String method) {
+        Element confirmation = createAssertionElement("SubjectConfirmation");
+        confirmation.setAttribute("Method", method);
+        getFirstAssertionSubject().appendChild(confirmation);
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Expires the {@code <saml:SubjectConfirmationData>} for the specified confirmation method.
+     */
+    public SamlResponseDocument expireSubjectConfirmationData(String method) {
+        Element data = getSubjectConfirmations().stream()
+                .filter(confirmation -> method.equals(confirmation.getAttribute("Method")))
+                .map(confirmation -> (Element) confirmation.getElementsByTagNameNS(ASSERTION_NS, "SubjectConfirmationData").item(0))
+                .filter(Objects::nonNull)
+                .findFirst()
+                .orElseThrow(() -> new IllegalStateException("No SubjectConfirmationData found for method " + method));
+        data.setAttribute("NotOnOrAfter", "2000-01-01T00:00:00Z");
+        return this;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Appends a {@code <saml:ProxyRestriction Count="count">} condition to the first assertion. A {@code Count}
      * of {@code 0} forbids a proxying party (e.g. an identity broker) from issuing a further assertion.