CVE-2026-11835

Caliptra Update-Reset Secure-Boot Bypass via Attacker-Chosen AXI Staging Address (TOCTOU)

Published Aug 4, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 5.6 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) vulnerability combined with missing input validation in Caliptra Core ROM (UpdateResetFlow::run()) in subsystem mode allows a compromised local attacker to silently bypass secure boot by supplying an AXI staging address that is not validated against the strap-configured SS_EXTERNAL_STAGING_AREA_BASE_ADDR, enabling firmware to be modified between verification and loading into ICCM. Attestation continues to report the originally verified image digest, masking the compromise. Exploitation requires a compromised MCU firmware with AXI manager access to unprotected SRAM reachable by Caliptra.

This issue affects Core ROM: 2.1.0 through 2.1.1.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Caliptra
Caliptra core Rom
Vendors & Products Caliptra
Caliptra core Rom
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) vulnerability combined with missing input validation in Caliptra Core ROM (UpdateResetFlow::run()) in subsystem mode allows a compromised local attacker to silently bypass secure boot by supplying an AXI staging address that is not validated against the strap-configured SS_EXTERNAL_STAGING_AREA_BASE_ADDR, enabling firmware to be modified between verification and loading into ICCM. Attestation continues to report the originally verified image digest, masking the compromise. Exploitation requires a compromised MCU firmware with AXI manager access to unprotected SRAM reachable by Caliptra. This issue affects Core ROM: 2.1.0 through 2.1.1.
Title Caliptra Update-Reset Secure-Boot Bypass via Attacker-Chosen AXI Staging Address (TOCTOU)
Weaknesses CWE-20
CWE-367
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 5.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Caliptra
Published
Updated
Aug 4, 2026, 9:25 PM
Reserved
Jun 9, 2026, 11:30 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Aug 4, 2026, 12:16 AM
Modified
Oct 23, 2026, 11:10 PM