curl: Improper Certificate Validation
CVE-2026-82208 is a high-severity improper certificate validation vulnerability in curl, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 8.14.2, 8.16.1, 8.20.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating curl to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.41% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update curl to 8.14.2 or 8.16.1 or 8.20.1 or 8.22.0, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on curl.se 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curl | curl | 8.9.1 up to, but not including, 8.14.2; 8.15.0 up to, but not including, 8.16.1; 8.17.0 up to, but not including, 8.20.1; 8.21.0 up to, but not including, 8.22.0; 0f2876b2c33f6784a27b6f7345bd8cd95b46352a up to, but not including, ed0338befd1d865a8ea1fbaa90013a096dedd07a; 8.21.0; 8.20.0; 8.19.0; and 14 more ranges | 8.14.2, 8.16.1, 8.20.1, 8.22.0, ed0338befd1d865a8ea1fbaa90013a096dedd07a |
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
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
With the wolfSSL backend, when CA caching is enabled and an `CURLOPT_SSL_CTX_FUNCTION` callback replaces the trust store, libcurl can silently reinstall the cached store after the callback returns. A certificate trusted by the cached store but rejected by the callback-selected store is then incorrectly accepted.
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: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- hackerone.com/reports/3973090Exploit, Mitigation, Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in curl
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
Recent Improper Certificate Validation vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.0 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
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