Description
The MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm is not collision resistant, which makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to conduct spoofing attacks, as demonstrated by attacks on the use of MD5 in the signature algorithm of an X.509 certificate.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Certificate System 8 | pki-ca | 8.0.7-1.el5pki | RHSA-2010:0838 |
| Red Hat Certificate System 8 | pki-common +1 | 8.0.6-2.el5pki | RHSA-2010:0838 |
| Red Hat Certificate System 8 | pki-util +1 | 8.0.5-1.el5pki | RHSA-2010:0838 |
| Red Hat Certificate System 7 | rhpki-ca +1 | 7.3.0-21.el4 | RHSA-2010:0837 |
| Red Hat Certificate System 7 | rhpki-common | 7.3.0-41.el4 | RHSA-2010:0837 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- MD5 - Message Digest Algorithm Hash Collision EDB-24807 · dos · Dec 7, 2004 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2010:0838 Red Hat Security Advisory: pki security and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- RHSA-2010:0837 Red Hat Security Advisory: rhpki security and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- ICSMA-18-058-02 Philips Intellispace Portal ISP Vulnerabilities CISA ICS & IT advisories · Feb 27, 2018
References
- 33065 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2010:0837 vendor-advisory
- http://www.phreedom.org/research/rogue-ca/
- VU#836068 third-party-advisory
- 4866 third-party-advisory
- http://blog.mozilla.com/security/2008/12/30/md5-weaknesses-could-lead-to-certificate-forgery/
- 20090115 MD5 Hashes May Allow for Certificate Spoofing vendor-advisory
- http://www.win.tue.nl/hashclash/SoftIntCodeSign/
- 33826 third-party-advisory
- 34281 third-party-advisory
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/961509.mspx
- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03814en_us
- http://blogs.technet.com/swi/archive/2008/12/30/information-regarding-md5-collisions-problem.aspx
- http://www.doxpara.com/research/md5/md5_someday.pdf
- https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSMA-18-058-02
- RHSA-2010:0838 vendor-advisory
- https://blogs.verisign.com/ssl-blog/2008/12/on_md5_vulnerabilities_and_mit.php
- USN-740-1 vendor-advisory
- 1024697 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2009-1276 vendor-advisory
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05336888
- 20081230 MD5 Considered Harmful Today: Creating a rogue CA certificate mailing-list
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05289935
- 42181 third-party-advisory
- http://www.win.tue.nl/hashclash/rogue-ca/
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=648886