Description
wolfSSL_X509_verify_cert in the OpenSSL compatibility layer accepts a certificate chain in which the leaf's signature is not checked, if the attacker supplies an untrusted intermediate with Basic Constraints `CA:FALSE` that is legitimately signed by a trusted root. An attacker who obtains any leaf certificate from a trusted CA (e.g. a free DV cert from Let's Encrypt) can forge a certificate for any subject name with any public key and arbitrary signature bytes, and the function returns `WOLFSSL_SUCCESS` / `X509_V_OK`. The native wolfSSL TLS handshake path (`ProcessPeerCerts`) is not susceptible and the issue is limited to applications using the OpenSSL compatibility API directly, which would include integrations of wolfSSL into nginx and haproxy.
Published: 2026-04-10
Score: 8.6 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Certificate Spoofing
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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History

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:wolfssl:wolfssl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}


Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

ssvc

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


Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Wolfssl
Wolfssl wolfssl
Vendors & Products Wolfssl
Wolfssl wolfssl

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 03:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description wolfSSL_X509_verify_cert in the OpenSSL compatibility layer accepts a certificate chain in which the leaf's signature is not checked, if the attacker supplies an untrusted intermediate with Basic Constraints `CA:FALSE` that is legitimately signed by a trusted root. An attacker who obtains any leaf certificate from a trusted CA (e.g. a free DV cert from Let's Encrypt) can forge a certificate for any subject name with any public key and arbitrary signature bytes, and the function returns `WOLFSSL_SUCCESS` / `X509_V_OK`. The native wolfSSL TLS handshake path (`ProcessPeerCerts`) is not susceptible and the issue is limited to applications using the OpenSSL compatibility API directly, which would include integrations of wolfSSL into nginx and haproxy.
Title Improper Certificate Signature Verification in X.509 Chain Validation Allows Forged Leaf Certificates
Weaknesses CWE-295
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: wolfSSL

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-22T13:59:28.514Z

Reserved: 2026-04-03T15:46:09.302Z

Link: CVE-2026-5501

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-04-10T13:43:00.745Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-04-10T04:17:17.230

Modified: 2026-04-27T17:57:21.137

Link: CVE-2026-5501

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-10T09:26:56Z

Weaknesses