smallstep certificates up to 0.30.0-rc6 improper authentication

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in smallstep certificates up to 0.30.0-rc6. This issue affects some unknown processing. Performing a manipulation results in improper authentication. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-30836. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in smallstep certificates up to 0.30.0-rc6. It has been classified as critical. This affects some unknown processing. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a improper authentication vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-287. When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Step CA is an online certificate authority for secure, automated certificate management for DevOps. Versions 0.30.0-rc6 and below do not safeguard against unauthenticated certificate issuance through the SCEP UpdateReq. This issue has been fixed in version 0.30.0.

The advisory is shared at github.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-30836 since 03/05/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 303466 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-30836), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 0.30.0 eliminates this vulnerability. The upgrade is hosted for download at github.com. Applying the patch e6da031d5125cfd99fe9a26f74bb41e4dacca4ef is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (303466). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.5

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 10.0
CNA Vector (GitHub_M): 🔒

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Improper authentication
CWE: CWE-287
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 303466
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-30836

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: certificates 0.30.0
Patch: e6da031d5125cfd99fe9a26f74bb41e4dacca4ef

Timelineinfo

03/05/2026 CVE reserved
03/20/2026 +15 days Advisory disclosed
03/20/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/25/2026 +5 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Product: github.com

Advisory: GHSA-q4r8-xm5f-56gw
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-30836 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-30836
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-351861

Entryinfo

Created: 03/20/2026 07:43
Updated: 03/25/2026 03:44
Changes: 03/20/2026 07:43 (67), 03/24/2026 10:51 (1), 03/25/2026 03:44 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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