Description
Improper Certificate Validation vulnerability in Erlang OTP public_key (pubkey_ocsp module) allows OCSP designated-responder authorization bypass via missing signature verification.

The OCSP response validation in public_key:pkix_ocsp_validate/5 does not verify that a CA-designated responder certificate was cryptographically signed by the issuing CA. Instead, it only checks that the responder certificate's issuer name matches the CA's subject name and that the certificate has the OCSPSigning extended key usage. An attacker who can intercept or control OCSP responses can create a self-signed certificate with a matching issuer name and the OCSPSigning EKU, and use it to forge OCSP responses that mark revoked certificates as valid.

This affects SSL/TLS clients using OCSP stapling, which may accept connections to servers with revoked certificates, potentially transmitting sensitive data to compromised servers. Applications using the public_key:pkix_ocsp_validate/5 API directly are also affected, with impact depending on usage context.

This vulnerability is associated with program files lib/public_key/src/pubkey_ocsp.erl and program routines pubkey_ocsp:is_authorized_responder/3.

This issue affects OTP from OTP 27.0 until OTP 28.4.2 and 27.3.4.10 corresponding to public_key from 1.16 until 1.20.3 and 1.17.1.2, and ssl from 11.2 until 11.5.4 and 11.2.12.7.
Published: 2026-04-07
Score: 7.6 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Authorization bypass that permits forged OCSP responses to be accepted, allowing an attacker to trick TLS clients into using certificates that are actually revoked
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

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Remediation

Vendor Workaround

For SSL users: * Do not enable OCSP validation setting (current default is {stapling, no_staple}) * Use CRL-based revocation checking by setting the {crl_check, true} SSL option instead For applications using public_key:pkix_ocsp_validate/5 directly: * Pass {is_trusted_responder_fun, Fun} option with a function that validates trusted responder certificates * Restrict OCSP responder access to trusted endpoints via network controls (only applicable if you control the OCSP infrastructure)

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}


Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Erlang erlang\/public Key
Erlang erlang\/ssl
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\/public_key:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\/ssl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Erlang erlang\/public Key
Erlang erlang\/ssl
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}


Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Erlang erlang/otp
Erlang otp
Vendors & Products Erlang erlang/otp
Erlang otp

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-347
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

threat_severity

Important


Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Improper Certificate Validation vulnerability in Erlang OTP public_key (pubkey_ocsp module) allows OCSP designated-responder authorization bypass via missing signature verification. The OCSP response validation in public_key:pkix_ocsp_validate/5 does not verify that a CA-designated responder certificate was cryptographically signed by the issuing CA. Instead, it only checks that the responder certificate's issuer name matches the CA's subject name and that the certificate has the OCSPSigning extended key usage. An attacker who can intercept or control OCSP responses can create a self-signed certificate with a matching issuer name and the OCSPSigning EKU, and use it to forge OCSP responses that mark revoked certificates as valid. This affects SSL/TLS clients using OCSP stapling, which may accept connections to servers with revoked certificates, potentially transmitting sensitive data to compromised servers. Applications using the public_key:pkix_ocsp_validate/5 API directly are also affected, with impact depending on usage context. This vulnerability is associated with program files lib/public_key/src/pubkey_ocsp.erl and program routines pubkey_ocsp:is_authorized_responder/3. This issue affects OTP from OTP 27.0 until OTP 28.4.2 and 27.3.4.10 corresponding to public_key from 1.16 until 1.20.3 and 1.17.1.2, and ssl from 11.2 until 11.5.4 and 11.2.12.7.
Title OCSP designated-responder authorization bypass via missing signature verification
First Time appeared Erlang
Erlang erlang\/otp
Weaknesses CWE-295
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Erlang
Erlang erlang\/otp
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Subscriptions

Erlang Erlang/otp Erlang\/otp Erlang\/public Key Erlang\/ssl Otp
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: EEF

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-07T14:38:03.763Z

Reserved: 2026-03-10T22:37:29.212Z

Link: CVE-2026-32144

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-04-07T13:15:16.503Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-04-07T13:16:46.570

Modified: 2026-04-23T17:32:55.830

Link: CVE-2026-32144

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-04-07T12:28:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-32144 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-08T19:49:43Z

Weaknesses