CVE-2026-42789
CVE-2026-42789 · Non-CA certificate accepted as intermediate issuer in public_key path validation
This page contains facts from public vulnerability sources. Check the original advisory before updating.
Improper Following of a Certificate's Chain of Trust vulnerability in Erlang OTP public_key (pubkey_cert module) allows a non-CA certificate to be accepted as an intermediate issuer, enabling certificate chain forgery. In lib/public_key/src/pubkey_cert.erl, pubkey_cert:validate_extensions/7 contains two flaws that together allow a certificate with basicConstraints cA:false and no keyUsage extension to be used as an intermediate issuer in a chain passed to public_key:pkix_path_validation/3: the cA:false clause recurses into the remaining extensions without rejecting the certificate when it is in issuer position, and the keyUsage check only fires when the extension is present, so a certificate lacking keyUsage entirely bypasses the keyCertSign enforcement. Any party holding an end-entity certificate with basicConstraints cA:false and no keyUsage extension, issued by any CA in the victim's trust store, can use that certificate's private key to sign forged leaf certificates for arbitrary identities. public_key:pkix_path_validation/3 accepts the resulting chain, and by extension every TLS or mTLS endpoint built on the OTP ssl application that relies on the default verifier is affected, including server identity verification on the client side and client certificate verification on mTLS servers. This issue affects OTP from OTP 17.0 before OTP 27.3.4.19, OTP 28.5.0.8, and OTP 29.1.2, corresponding to public_key from 0.22 before 1.17.1.7, 1.20.3.6, and 1.21.8. Whether OTP before OTP 17.0, corresponding to public_key before 0.22, is affected is unknown.
CVSS 7.0 · High · EPSS 0.4% · Fix available
- Published
- Updated
Stack: system
Affected products and versions
erlang
- Versions
- ≥ 17.0: Affected; ≥ 27.3.4.19: Not affected; ≥ 28.5.0.8: Not affected; ≥ 29.1.2: Not affected (otp)
Update to 27.3.4.19
erlang
- Versions
- ≥ 0.22: Affected; ≥ 1.17.1.7: Not affected; ≥ 1.20.3.6: Not affected; ≥ 1.21.8: Not affected (otp)
Update to 1.17.1.7
erlang
- Versions
- ≥ 84adefa331c4159d432d22840663c38f155cd4c1: Affected; ≥ 0a05b7ca33fb0b3f0a6cb9ae34252bb3a74032b8: Not affected; ≥ 75ca4c0dc2bbdb286ac3c3fe89cb4b4d2b4dc333: Not affected; ≥ 82af606b5437c4de1276dbcc8855a47e88231226: Not affected (git)
- ≥ 0a05b7ca33fb0b3f0a6cb9ae34252bb3a74032b8: Not affected (git)
- ≥ 75ca4c0dc2bbdb286ac3c3fe89cb4b4d2b4dc333: Not affected (git)
- ≥ 82af606b5437c4de1276dbcc8855a47e88231226: Not affected (git)
No fix published
erlang Debian:12
- Versions
- 1:25.2.3+dfsg-1
- 1:25.2.3+dfsg-1+deb12u1
- 1:25.2.3+dfsg-1+deb12u2
- 1:25.2.3+dfsg-1+deb12u3
- 1:25.2.3+dfsg-1+deb12u4
- 1:25.3.2.10+dfsg-1
- 1:25.3.2.10+dfsg-2
- 1:25.3.2.11+dfsg-1
- 1:25.3.2.12+dfsg-1
- 1:25.3.2.12+dfsg-2
- 1:25.3.2.12+dfsg-3
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1
- 1:26.0+dfsg-1
- 1:26.0.1+dfsg-1
- 1:26.0.2+dfsg-1
- 1:26.0~rc2+dfsg-1
- 1:26.0~rc3+dfsg-1
- 1:26.1.2+dfsg-1
- 1:26.2.1+dfsg-1
- 1:26.2.4+dfsg-1
- 1:27.0+dfsg-1
- 1:27.0.1+dfsg-1
- 1:27.0.1+dfsg-2
- 1:27.0.1+dfsg-3
- 1:27.0~rc3+dfsg-1
- 1:27.0~rc3+dfsg-2
- 1:27.0~rc3+dfsg-3
- 1:27.0~rc3+dfsg-4
- 1:27.1.2+dfsg-1
- 1:27.2+dfsg-1
- 1:27.2+dfsg-2
- 1:27.2+dfsg-3~exp1
- 1:27.2.1+dfsg-1
- 1:27.2.1+dfsg-2
- 1:27.2.2+dfsg-1
- 1:27.2.3+dfsg-1
- 1:27.2.4+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.1+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.2+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.3+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.10+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-2
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-3
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-4
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-5
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-6
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-7
- 1:27.3.4.12+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.3+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.4+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.6+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.8+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.9+dfsg-1
- 1:28.0+dfsg-1
- 1:28.0.1+dfsg-1
- 1:28.0.2+dfsg-1
- 1:28.0.4+dfsg-1
- 1:28.1.1+dfsg-1
- 1:28.2+dfsg-1
- 1:28.3+dfsg-1
- 1:28.3.1+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0+dfsg-2
- 1:29.0.1+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0.2+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0.3+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0.4+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0.6+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0~rc1+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0~rc1+dfsg-2
- 1:29.0~rc2+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0~rc3+dfsg-1
- 1:29.0~rc3+dfsg-2
- 1:29.0~rc3+dfsg-3
- 1:29.0~rc3+dfsg-4
- 1:29.1.1+dfsg-1
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: (−∞, +∞)
No fix published
erlang Debian:13
- Versions
- 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1+deb13u1
- 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1+deb13u2
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: < 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1+deb13u3
Update to 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1+deb13u3
erlang Debian:14
- Versions
- 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.10+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-2
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-3
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-4
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-5
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-6
- 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-7
- 1:27.3.4.3+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.4+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.6+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.8+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.9+dfsg-1
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: < 1:27.3.4.12+dfsg-1
Update to 1:27.3.4.12+dfsg-1
erlang Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS
- Versions
- 1:16.b.1-dfsg-4ubuntu1
- 1:16.b.2-dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:16.b.2-dfsg-2ubuntu1
- 1:16.b.3-dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:16.b.3-dfsg-1ubuntu2
- 1:16.b.3-dfsg-1ubuntu2.1
- 1:16.b.3-dfsg-1ubuntu2.2
- 1:16.b.3-dfsg-1ubuntu2.2+esm1
- 1:16.b.3-dfsg-1ubuntu2.2+esm2
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: < 1:16.b.3-dfsg-1ubuntu2.2+esm3
Update to 1:16.b.3-dfsg-1ubuntu2.2+esm3
erlang Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
- Versions
- 1:18.0-dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:18.0-dfsg-1ubuntu2
- 1:18.2-dfsg-2ubuntu1
- 1:18.3-dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:18.3-dfsg-1ubuntu2
- 1:18.3-dfsg-1ubuntu3
- 1:18.3-dfsg-1ubuntu3.1
- 1:18.3-dfsg-1ubuntu3.1+esm1
- 1:18.3-dfsg-1ubuntu3.1+esm2
- 1:18.3-dfsg-1ubuntu3.1+esm3
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: < 1:18.3-dfsg-1ubuntu3.1+esm4
Update to 1:18.3-dfsg-1ubuntu3.1+esm4
erlang Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
- Versions
- 1:20.0.4+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:20.1.2+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:20.1.3+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:20.1.4+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:20.1.5+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:20.1.6+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:20.1.7+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:20.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:20.2.2+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:20.2.2+dfsg-1ubuntu2
- 1:20.2.2+dfsg-1ubuntu2+esm1
- 1:20.2.2+dfsg-1ubuntu2+esm2
- 1:20.2.2+dfsg-1ubuntu2+esm3
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: < 1:20.2.2+dfsg-1ubuntu2+esm4
Update to 1:20.2.2+dfsg-1ubuntu2+esm4
erlang Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS
- Versions
- 1:22.0.7+dfsg-1build1
- 1:22.2+dfsg-1
- 1:22.2.1+dfsg-1
- 1:22.2.2+dfsg-1
- 1:22.2.3+dfsg-1
- 1:22.2.3+dfsg-2
- 1:22.2.4+dfsg-1
- 1:22.2.7+dfsg-1
- 1:22.2.7+dfsg-1ubuntu0.2
- 1:22.2.7+dfsg-1ubuntu0.3
- 1:22.2.7+dfsg-1ubuntu0.4
- 1:22.2.7+dfsg-1ubuntu0.5
- 1:22.2.7+dfsg-1ubuntu0.5+esm1
- 1:22.2.7+dfsg-1ubuntu0.5+esm2
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: < 1:22.2.7+dfsg-1ubuntu0.5+esm3
Update to 1:22.2.7+dfsg-1ubuntu0.5+esm3
erlang Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
- Versions
- 1:23.2.6+dfsg-1build1
- 1:24.1.1+dfsg-1
- 1:24.1.4+dfsg-1
- 1:24.1.5+dfsg-1
- 1:24.1.5+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:24.2+dfsg-1
- 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1
- 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1
- 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.2
- 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.3
- 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.4
- 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.5
- 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.6
- 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.7
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: < 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.8
Update to 1:24.2.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.8
erlang Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
- Versions
- 1:25.2.3+dfsg-1
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu3
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4.1
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4.2
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4.3
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4.4
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4.5
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4.6
- 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4.7
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: < 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4.8
Update to 1:25.3.2.8+dfsg-1ubuntu4.8
erlang Ubuntu:25.10
- Versions
- 1:27.3+dfsg-1ubuntu1
- 1:27.3+dfsg-1ubuntu1.1
- 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1build1
- 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: (−∞, +∞)
No fix published
erlang Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
- Versions
- 1:27.3.4.1+dfsg-1build1
- 1:27.3.4.3+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.4+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.6+dfsg-1
- 1:27.3.4.6+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1
- Affected ranges
- ECOSYSTEM: < 1:27.3.4.6+dfsg-1ubuntu0.2
Update to 1:27.3.4.6+dfsg-1ubuntu0.2
Original sources
- https://github.com/erlang/otp/security/advisories/GHSA-c99q-jmpx-v8qq
- https://cna.erlef.org/cves/CVE-2026-42789.html
- https://osv.dev/vulnerability/EEF-CVE-2026-42789
- https://www.erlang.org/doc/system/versions.html#order-of-versions
- https://github.com/erlang/otp/commit/0a05b7ca33fb0b3f0a6cb9ae34252bb3a74032b8
- https://github.com/erlang/otp/commit/75ca4c0dc2bbdb286ac3c3fe89cb4b4d2b4dc333
- https://github.com/erlang/otp/commit/82af606b5437c4de1276dbcc8855a47e88231226
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42789
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2482093
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-42789.json
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54757
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:39809
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42789