forge: Improper Certificate Validation
CVE-2026-33896 is a critical-severity improper certificate validation vulnerability in forge from Digitalbazaar, with a CVSS 3.1 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 forge versions: < 1.4.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.36% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of forge 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digitalbazaar | forge | < 1.4.0 | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 9 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Cluster Observability Operator 1.5.0 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Developer Hub 1.8 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Developer Hub 1.9 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Cryostat 4 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat build of Apache Camel - HawtIO 4 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat build of Apicurio Registry 2 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Build of Podman Desktop | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Data Grid 8 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Fuse 7 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Process Automation 7 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Quay 3 | Not specified in the record | 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.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.4 | High | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.4 | High | CNA |
Official description
Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. Prior to version 1.4.0, `pki.verifyCertificateChain()` does not enforce RFC 5280 basicConstraints requirements when an intermediate certificate lacks both the `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions. This allows any leaf certificate (without these extensions) to act as a CA and sign other certificates, which node-forge will accept as valid. Version 1.4.0 patches the issue.
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: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13826
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:24761
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34342
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:9742
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-33896
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2452458
- security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-33896.json
Other vulnerabilities in forge
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Improper Certificate Validation vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
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