Keystore tampering via 16-bit MAC key
Published Aug 3, 2026 · Updated Aug 3, 2026
Weak BKS integrity in Bouncy Castle Java before 1.85 and Java LTS before 2.73.12 allows attackers to tamper with keystore contents. BcKeyStoreSpi.engineLoad accepts attacker-controlled version 0 or 1 files and passes a 20-byte SHA-1 MAC size as bits, deriving a brute-forceable 16-bit key. Exploitation requires an application to load a supplied or modified BKS file; a forged MAC can conceal changes such as a rogue trusted CA.
Summary
What happened
Weak BKS integrity in Bouncy Castle Java before 1.85 and Java LTS before 2.73.12 allows attackers to tamper with keystore contents. BcKeyStoreSpi.engineLoad accepts attacker-controlled version 0 or 1 files and passes a 20-byte SHA-1 MAC size as bits, deriving a brute-forceable 16-bit key. Exploitation requires an application to load a supplied or modified BKS file; a forged MAC can conceal changes such as a rogue trusted CA.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-59651
- Published
- Aug 3, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 3, 2026
- Vendor
- Legion of the Bouncy Castle Inc.
- Product
- Bouncy Castle Java
- Classifications
- CWE-326, T1553.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 3, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 3, 2026Record 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 <1.85
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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