CVE-2026-103503

Hex trusts its bundled CA certificates when cacerts_path is set

Published Oct 12, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 5.9 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Improper Certificate Validation vulnerability in hexpm hex allows an attacker who can intercept HTTPS connections, and holds a certificate for a Hex host issued by a CA in Hex's bundled CA store, to impersonate that host to users who set cacerts_path to a CA store that leaves that CA out.

cacerts_path (HEX_CACERTS_PATH) is documented as the path to the CA certificate store, used instead of the CA bundle that ships with Hex. Hex.HTTP.SSL.ssl_opts/1 passes the configured store as the cacerts option, but builds the partial_chain callback from the bundled store whether cacerts_path is set or not. Hex.HTTP.SSL.partial_chain/2 accepts a server chain when any certificate in it has the same public key as a bundled CA certificate, so a chain that leads to a bundled CA passes verification although the configured store doesn't contain that CA. Hostname verification still applies.

This issue affects hex: from 0.20.2 before 2.5.2.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade Hex to 2.5.2 or later, for example with mix local.hex. With cacerts_path (HEX_CACERTS_PATH) set, Hex then only accepts server certificates that chain to a CA in that file, and it doesn't trust copies of CA certificates sent by the server.


Vendor Workaround

There's no Hex configuration that stops the bundled CAs from being trusted.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Improper Certificate Validation vulnerability in hexpm hex allows an attacker who can intercept HTTPS connections, and holds a certificate for a Hex host issued by a CA in Hex's bundled CA store, to impersonate that host to users who set cacerts_path to a CA store that leaves that CA out. cacerts_path (HEX_CACERTS_PATH) is documented as the path to the CA certificate store, used instead of the CA bundle that ships with Hex. Hex.HTTP.SSL.ssl_opts/1 passes the configured store as the cacerts option, but builds the partial_chain callback from the bundled store whether cacerts_path is set or not. Hex.HTTP.SSL.partial_chain/2 accepts a server chain when any certificate in it has the same public key as a bundled CA certificate, so a chain that leads to a bundled CA passes verification although the configured store doesn't contain that CA. Hostname verification still applies. This issue affects hex: from 0.20.2 before 2.5.2.
Title Hex trusts its bundled CA certificates when cacerts_path is set
First Time appeared Hexpm
Hexpm hex
Weaknesses CWE-295
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:hexpm:hex:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Hexpm
Hexpm hex
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 5.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
EEF
Published
Updated
Nov 11, 2026, 2:04 PM
Reserved
Oct 8, 2026, 3:45 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Oct 12, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Nov 11, 2026, 3:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 12, 2026, 3:17 PM