Remote validation crash via unchecked public-key pointer
Published Aug 24, 2024 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
NULL pointer dereference in FORT Validator before 1.6.3 allows remote attackers to crash validation via a malformed certificate. In validate_subject_public_key(), X509_PUBKEY_get0() can return NULL for a malformed subjectPublicKey, but affected builds pass that pointer to EVP_PKEY_get0_RSA() without checking it. Exploitation requires a malicious RPKI repository below a trusted Trust Anchor and a build linked to OpenSSL libcrypto before 3; the crash can interrupt Route Origin Validation.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in FORT Validator before 1.6.3 allows remote attackers to crash validation via a malformed certificate. In validate_subject_public_key(), X509_PUBKEY_get0() can return NULL for a malformed subjectPublicKey, but affected builds pass that pointer to EVP_PKEY_get0_RSA() without checking it. Exploitation requires a malicious RPKI repository below a trusted Trust Anchor and a build linked to OpenSSL libcrypto before 3; the crash can interrupt Route Origin Validation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-45238
- Published
- Aug 24, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- FORT Validator Project
- Product
- FORT Validator
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 24, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <1.6.3
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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