CVE-2026-33896

Forge has a basicConstraints bypass in its certificate chain verification (RFC 5280 violation)

Published Mar 27, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.4 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. Prior to version 1.4.0, `pki.verifyCertificateChain()` does not enforce RFC 5280 basicConstraints requirements when an intermediate certificate lacks both the `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions. This allows any leaf certificate (without these extensions) to act as a CA and sign other certificates, which node-forge will accept as valid. Version 1.4.0 patches the issue.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-2328-f5f3-gj25 Forge has a basicConstraints bypass in its certificate chain verification (RFC 5280 violation)
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:digitalbazaar:forge:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Digitalbazaar
Digitalbazaar forge
Vendors & Products Digitalbazaar
Digitalbazaar forge
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. Prior to version 1.4.0, `pki.verifyCertificateChain()` does not enforce RFC 5280 basicConstraints requirements when an intermediate certificate lacks both the `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions. This allows any leaf certificate (without these extensions) to act as a CA and sign other certificates, which node-forge will accept as valid. Version 1.4.0 patches the issue.
Title Forge has a basicConstraints bypass in its certificate chain verification (RFC 5280 violation)
Weaknesses CWE-295
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Sep 4, 2026, 12:04 PM
Reserved
Mar 24, 2026, 3:41 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Mar 27, 2026, 9:17 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 9:10 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Mar 27, 2026, 8:50 PM