Cesanta Mongoose up to 7.20 Poly1305 Authentication Tag /src/tls_chacha20.c mg_chacha20_poly1305_decrypt signature verification

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Cesanta Mongoose up to 7.20. Affected is the function mg_chacha20_poly1305_decrypt of the file /src/tls_chacha20.c of the component Poly1305 Authentication Tag Handler. This manipulation causes signature verification. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-2968. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. Furthermore, an exploit is available. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Cesanta Mongoose up to 7.20. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function mg_chacha20_poly1305_decrypt of the file /src/tls_chacha20.c of the component Poly1305 Authentication Tag Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a signature verification vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-347. The product does not verify, or incorrectly verifies, the cryptographic signature for data. As an impact it is known to affect integrity.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-2968. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details and also a public exploit are known.

It is possible to download the exploit at github.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 299832 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-2968), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (299832). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Vendor

• Cesanta

Name

• Mongoose

Version

• 7.0
• 7.1
• 7.2
• 7.3
• 7.4
• 7.5
• 7.6
• 7.7
• 7.8
• 7.9
• 7.10
• 7.11
• 7.12
• 7.13
• 7.14
• 7.15
• 7.16
• 7.17
• 7.18
• 7.19
• 7.20

License

• open-source

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒
CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 3.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 3.5

VulDB Base Score: 3.7
VulDB Temp Score: 3.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 3.7
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Signature verification
CWE: CWE-347 / CWE-345
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔒

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 299832
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-2968

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

02/22/2026 Advisory disclosed
02/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/24/2026 +2 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: github.com
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2026-2968 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-2968
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-347335
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 02/22/2026 09:02
Updated: 02/24/2026 09:07
Changes: 02/22/2026 09:02 (57), 02/23/2026 07:16 (30), 02/24/2026 09:07 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Submitter: dwbruijn
Cache ID: 216::103

Submitinfo

Accepted

• Submit #757091: Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server 7.20 Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature (by dwbruijn)

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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