Signature misattribution via missing subkey cross-certification
Published Oct 3, 2026 · Updated Oct 3, 2026
OpenPGP signature misattribution in Bouncy Castle Java 1.81 through 1.85.2 allows attackers to claim genuine signatures under their own certificates. OpenPGPCertificate inherits signing flags from the primary key when a subkey binding omits Key Flags, while its cross-certification check reads only that binding and skips the required back signature. Exploitation requires a victim's public signing subkey and a message that subkey genuinely signed; it does not forge a new signature or expose the private key.
Summary
What happened
OpenPGP signature misattribution in Bouncy Castle Java 1.81 through 1.85.2 allows attackers to claim genuine signatures under their own certificates. OpenPGPCertificate inherits signing flags from the primary key when a subkey binding omits Key Flags, while its cross-certification check reads only that binding and skips the required back signature. Exploitation requires a victim's public signing subkey and a message that subkey genuinely signed; it does not forge a new signature or expose the private key.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-71887
- Published
- Oct 3, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 3, 2026
- Vendor
- Legion of the Bouncy Castle Inc.
- Product
- Bouncy Castle Java
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 3, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 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=1.81 <1.86
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
No sourced classifications are available.
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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