CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-61668NVD status: Deferred

DIRAC: Improper Certificate Validation

CVE-2026-61668 is a high-severity improper certificate validation vulnerability in DIRAC from DIRACGrid, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected DIRAC versions: >= 6.20.1, < 8.0.79; >= 9.0.0a1, < 9.0.22; >= 9.1.0, < 9.1.10. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.4% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of DIRAC you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
DIRACGridDIRAC>= 6.20.1, < 8.0.79; >= 9.0.0a1, < 9.0.22; >= 9.1.0, < 9.1.10Not 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
HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
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
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).

Official description

DIRAC is an interware, meaning a software framework for distributed computing. Prior to versions 8.0.79, 9.0.22, and 9.1.10, WorkloadManagementSystem/Utilities/PilotWrapper.py pilotWrapperScript uses ssl._create_unverified_context to download the second-stage pilot.tar archive without TLS certificate verification and downloads the reference checksum through the same unvalidated channel. An attacker able to redirect or intercept a grid site's network traffic through DNS or routing manipulation can substitute both the executable pilot code and its checksum, causing arbitrary code to run in the pilot context with access to pilot proxy credentials. The fixed implementation validates the server certificate through system trust and X509_CERT_DIR or the grid certificate directory. This issue is fixed in versions 8.0.79, 9.0.22, and 9.1.10.

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

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in DIRAC

All DIRAC vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Certificate Validation vulnerabilities

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