Severity by source
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Primary rating from Vendor (redhat).
CVSS VectorVendor: redhat
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
A flaw was found in gnutls. This vulnerability occurs because permitted name constraints were incorrectly ignored when previous Certificate Authorities (CAs) only had excluded name constraints. A remote attacker could exploit this to bypass critical name constraint checks during certificate validation. This bypass could lead to the acceptance of invalid certificates, potentially enabling spoofing or man-in-the-middle attacks against affected systems.
AnalysisAI
Certificate validation in GnuTLS can be bypassed when a certificate chain contains Certificate Authorities with only excluded name constraints followed by CAs with permitted name constraints. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw (CVSS 7.4, AV:N/AC:H) to present invalid certificates that pass validation, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks or service impersonation against TLS-protected communications. The vulnerability affects Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 6-10, OpenShift Container Platform 4, and Red Hat Hardened Images. No public exploit or active exploitation confirmed at time of analysis, though the technical nature suggests targeted attacks against high-value certificate infrastructure are feasible.
Technical ContextAI
GnuTLS is a widely-deployed open-source TLS/SSL library implementing secure communications protocols. This vulnerability stems from CWE-295 (Improper Certificate Validation), specifically in the name constraints extension (RFC 5280 Section 4.2.1.10) processing logic. Name constraints allow Certificate Authorities to restrict the namespaces (DNS domains, IP ranges, email domains) for which subordinate CAs can issue certificates. The flaw occurs during certificate chain validation when earlier CAs in the chain specify only excluded name constraints (e.g., 'cannot issue for *.internal.example.com') but later CAs specify permitted constraints (e.g., 'can only issue for *.example.com'). The GnuTLS validator incorrectly ignores the permitted constraints from the later CA when building the intersection of allowed namespaces, treating the absence of permitted constraints in earlier CAs as an implicit 'permit all.' This allows attackers who compromise or control a subordinate CA to issue certificates for domains outside the intended permitted namespace. Affected CPE products include all Red Hat Enterprise Linux distributions (RHEL 6-10), containerized environments (OpenShift Container Platform 4, Hardened Images), indicating the vulnerability exists in the base GnuTLS library package distributed across these platforms.
RemediationAI
Apply vendor-released patches for GnuTLS through Red Hat's standard update channels (yum/dnf update gnutls). Consult the Red Hat advisory at https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42011 and Red Hat Bugzilla 2467437 for release-specific fixed package versions. For RHEL 6-10 systems, run 'yum update gnutls' or 'dnf update gnutls' followed by service restarts for applications using the library (httpd, nginx, curl, wget, email servers, VPN services). OpenShift Container Platform 4 administrators should apply cluster updates per Red Hat's OpenShift security bulletins and rebuild container images based on updated Red Hat Universal Base Images. Until patches are applied, compensating controls include: restricting TLS connections to well-known Certificate Authorities by explicitly configuring trust anchors (removes attacker's ability to introduce rogue CAs); implementing certificate pinning for critical internal services (bypasses CA validation entirely but requires maintenance); deploying TLS inspection proxies with non-GnuTLS validation libraries as a second validation layer (adds operational complexity and potential performance impact). These mitigations do not eliminate risk but reduce attack surface by limiting the certificate chains that can reach the vulnerable code path. Organizations using complex PKI hierarchies with name constraints should prioritize patching as workarounds are operationally difficult.
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View allVendor StatusVendor
SUSE
Severity: High| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Certifications 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Certifications 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Certifications 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Desktop Applications 15 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3-BCL | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-BCL | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | Fixed |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | Fixed |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | Fixed |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.2 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.3 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.4 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.5 | Fixed |
| suse/sles/15.2/virt-handler:0.38.1 suse/sles/15.2/virt-launcher:0.38.1 suse/sles/15.3/virt-handler:0.45.0 suse/sles/15.3/virt-launcher:0.45.0 suse/sles/15.4/virt-handler:0.49.0 suse/sles/15.4/virt-launcher:0.49.0 suse/sles/15.5/virt-launcher:0.58.0 suse/sles/15.6/virt-launcher:1.1.1 suse/sles/15.7/virt-launcher:1.5.0 | Fixed |
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-28386
GHSA-568w-37qx-3qc6