Description
lib/x509/verify.c in GnuTLS before 3.1.21 and 3.2.x before 3.2.11 treats version 1 X.509 certificates as intermediate CAs, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended restrictions by leveraging a X.509 V1 certificate from a trusted CA to issue new certificates.
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.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | gnutls28 | 3.2.11-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | gnutls28 | 3.2.11-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | gnutls28 | 3.2.11-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | gnutls26 | 2.12.20-8 | DSA-2866-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | gnutls26 | 2.12.23-12ubuntu1 | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | gnutls | 3.4.15-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10105-1 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-2866-1 gnutls26 - certificate verification flaw Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10105-1 gnutls-3.4.15-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
References
- http://www.gnutls.org/security.html
- [oss-security] 20140213 CVE Request - GnuTLS corrects flaw in certificate verification (3.1.x/3.2.x) mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20140213 Re: CVE Request - GnuTLS corrects flaw in certificate verification (3.1.x/3.2.x) mailing-list
- 65559 vdb-entry
- USN-2121-1 vendor-advisory
- https://www.gitorious.org/gnutls/gnutls/commit/b1abfe3d182d68539900092eb42fc62cf1bb7e7c
- DSA-2866 vendor-advisory