CVE-2026-33753

Improper Certificate Validation in rfc3161-client

Published Apr 8, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 6.2 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
rfc3161-client is a Python library implementing the Time-Stamp Protocol (TSP) described in RFC 3161. Prior to 1.0.6, an Authorization Bypass vulnerability in rfc3161-client's signature verification allows any attacker to impersonate a trusted TimeStamping Authority (TSA). By exploiting a logic flaw in how the library extracts the leaf certificate from an unordered PKCS#7 bag of certificates, an attacker can append a spoofed certificate matching the target common_name and Extended Key Usage (EKU) requirements. This tricks the library into verifying these authorization rules against the forged certificate while validating the cryptographic signature against an actual trusted TSA (such as FreeTSA), thereby bypassing the intended TSA authorization pinning entirely. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.0.6.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-3xxc-pwj6-jgrj rfc3161-client Has Improper Certificate Validation
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:trailofbits:rfc3161-client:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Trailofbits
Trailofbits rfc3161-client
Vendors & Products Trailofbits
Trailofbits rfc3161-client
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description rfc3161-client is a Python library implementing the Time-Stamp Protocol (TSP) described in RFC 3161. Prior to 1.0.6, an Authorization Bypass vulnerability in rfc3161-client's signature verification allows any attacker to impersonate a trusted TimeStamping Authority (TSA). By exploiting a logic flaw in how the library extracts the leaf certificate from an unordered PKCS#7 bag of certificates, an attacker can append a spoofed certificate matching the target common_name and Extended Key Usage (EKU) requirements. This tricks the library into verifying these authorization rules against the forged certificate while validating the cryptographic signature against an actual trusted TSA (such as FreeTSA), thereby bypassing the intended TSA authorization pinning entirely. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.0.6.
Title Improper Certificate Validation in rfc3161-client
Weaknesses CWE-295
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Apr 8, 2026, 4:12 PM
Reserved
Mar 23, 2026, 6:30 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Apr 8, 2026, 4:16 PM
Modified
Jul 24, 2026, 11:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Apr 8, 2026, 2:54 PM