GNU GnuTLS up to 3.2.10 Version 1 Certificate lib/x509/verify.c gnutls_x509_verify_certificate access control

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in GNU GnuTLS and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function gnutls_x509_verify_certificate of the file lib/x509/verify.c of the component Version 1 Certificate Handler. The manipulation leads to access control. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2014-1959. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in GNU GnuTLS (Network Encryption Software). This issue affects the function gnutls_x509_verify_certificate of the file lib/x509/verify.c of the component Version 1 Certificate Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-264. Impacted is integrity. The summary by CVE is:

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.

The weakness was presented 02/13/2014 by Suman Jana as GNUTLS-SA-2014-1 as confirmed advisory (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at gnutls.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2014-1959 since 02/13/2014. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1068 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 72647 (Debian DSA-2866-1 : gnutls26 - certificate verification flaw), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 122883 (Debian Security Update for gnutls26 (DSA 2866-1)).

Upgrading to version 3.1.21 or 3.2.11 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at gitorious.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 16323.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (91104), Tenable (72647), SecurityFocus (BID 65559†), Secunia (SA56966†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-43426†). See VDB-66554 and VDB-74470 for similar entries. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Access control
CWE: CWE-264
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Unproven

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 72647
Nessus Name: Debian DSA-2866-1 : gnutls26 - certificate verification flaw
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 702866
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 2866-1 (gnutls26 - certificate verification flaw
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: GnuTLS 3.1.21/3.2.11
Patch: gitorious.org
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

02/12/2014 🔍
02/12/2014 +0 days 🔍
02/13/2014 +1 days 🔍
02/13/2014 +0 days 🔍
02/14/2014 +1 days 🔍
02/18/2014 +4 days 🔍
02/24/2014 +6 days 🔍
03/02/2014 +6 days 🔍
03/06/2014 +4 days 🔍
05/07/2026 +4445 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: gnu.org

Advisory: GNUTLS-SA-2014-1
Researcher: Suman Jana
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2014-1959 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2014-1959
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-12323

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 91104 - GnuTLS certificate security bypass, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 65559 - GnuTLS CVE-2014-1959 Certificate Validation Security Bypass Weakness
Secunia: 56966 - GnuTLS V1 Intermediate Certificates Verification Security Issue, Less Critical
Vulnerability Center: 43426 - GnuTLS 2.11.5 Remote Security Bypass Vulnerability due to an Error in the _gnutls_x509_verify_certificate() Function, Medium

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 02/18/2014 09:49
Updated: 05/07/2026 05:01
Changes: 02/18/2014 09:49 (84), 05/22/2017 09:06 (8), 06/09/2021 15:02 (3), 12/20/2024 01:34 (18), 05/07/2026 05:01 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Committer: olku
Cache ID: 216::103

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