msquic: Improper Certificate Validation
CVE-2026-105794 is a critical-severity improper certificate validation vulnerability in msquic from Microsoft, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected msquic versions: < 2.4.20; >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.11; >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 63% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of msquic you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | msquic | < 2.4.20; >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.11; >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Attack requirements
- PresentThe target must be in a specific state or configuration for the attack to work.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- NoneNo loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
MsQuic is a cross-platform C implementation of the IETF QUIC protocol exposed to C, C++, C#, and Rust. Prior to 2.4.20, 2.5.11, and 2.6.1, MsQuic clients using the OpenSSL or QuicTLS TLS backend do not properly verify that a server certificate matches the intended target server hostname. An on-path attacker can therefore present a certificate that does not match the intended target hostname and spoof the server in a man-in-the-middle attack. The Schannel backend is not affected. This issue is fixed in versions 2.4.20, 2.5.11, and 2.6.1.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Certificate Validation
The product does not validate, or incorrectly validates, a certificate.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Certificates should be carefully managed and checked to assure that data are encrypted with the intended owner's public key.
- If certificate pinning is being used, ensure that all relevant properties of the certificate are fully validated before the certificate is pinned, including the hostname.
More Improper Certificate Validation vulnerabilities (CWE-295)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
References
Patches and release notes
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/commit/0591586443cc73a2d2cfb679527d91a144b4a412
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/commit/508e811370df93e2ad848f5c78347d4fe4f65a91
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/commit/90fd45498bf9b506b8556fb407088688474d6c81
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/commit/a01333cf7c2659cce0ff03ef3f21e1ff15bb5b83
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/pull/6274
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/pull/6275
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/pull/6276
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/pull/6277
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/releases/tag/v2.4.20
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/releases/tag/v2.5.11
- github.com/microsoft/msquic/releases/tag/v2.6.1
Recent Improper Certificate Validation vulnerabilities
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
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