Client impersonation via missing certificate-purpose validation
Published Jun 15, 2026 · Updated Jun 15, 2026
Improper certificate validation in OCaml-TLS before 2.1.0 allows remote attackers to impersonate mTLS clients using trusted server certificates. The validateCerts and answerClientCertificate paths call validateChain but omit KeyUsage digitalSignature and ExtendedKeyUsage clientAuth checks on the presented leaf. Exploitation requires mTLS, a chain-valid certificate under the listener's trust store, and an application that relies on TLS validation alone; successful handshakes grant the certificate subject an authenticated client identity.
Summary
What happened
Improper certificate validation in OCaml-TLS before 2.1.0 allows remote attackers to impersonate mTLS clients using trusted server certificates. The validateCerts and answerClientCertificate paths call validateChain but omit KeyUsage digitalSignature and ExtendedKeyUsage clientAuth checks on the presented leaf. Exploitation requires mTLS, a chain-valid certificate under the listener's trust store, and an application that relies on TLS validation alone; successful handshakes grant the certificate subject an authenticated client identity.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-45389
- Published
- Jun 15, 2026
- Updated
- Jun 15, 2026
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-295, T1078
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Technologies
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