CVE-2026-56822

Netty: TOCTOU in OcspServerCertificateValidator

Published Jul 28, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.4 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework. Prior to versions 4.1.136.Final and 4.2.16.Final, the OcspServerCertificateValidator forwards the SslHandshakeCompletionEvent before the asynchronous OCSP validation completes. This allows the client's downstream handlers to send sensitive application data (e.g., HTTP requests) to a revoked server before the channel is closed by the OCSP check. n io.netty.handler.ssl.ocsp.OcspServerCertificateValidator#userEventTriggered, when an SslHandshakeCompletionEvent is received, the validator immediately calls ctx.fireUserEventTriggered(evt). It then initiates an asynchronous OCSP query using OcspClient.query. Because the handshake completion event is forwarded immediately, downstream handlers in the client's pipeline are notified that the TLS handshake is successful. They may then begin reading and processing incoming application data or sending outgoing data. If the OCSP response later indicates the server's certificate is REVOKED, the validator closes the channel, but by this time, the client may have already leaked sensitive data to a revoked server or processed malicious responses from it. This issue has been fixed in versions 4.1.136.Final and 4.2.16.Final.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-wc96-39fc-566f Netty: TOCTOU in OcspServerCertificateValidator
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in Netty's `netty-handler-ssl-ocsp` component. This vulnerability involves a time-of-check/time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition within the OCSP stapling validator. A remote attacker could exploit this timing window, allowing them to use a certificate that has been revoked for authentication purposes. This could lead to unauthorized access or bypass of security controls. Netty is an asynchronous, event-driven network application framework. Prior to versions 4.1.136.Final and 4.2.16.Final, the OcspServerCertificateValidator forwards the SslHandshakeCompletionEvent before the asynchronous OCSP validation completes. This allows the client's downstream handlers to send sensitive application data (e.g., HTTP requests) to a revoked server before the channel is closed by the OCSP check. n io.netty.handler.ssl.ocsp.OcspServerCertificateValidator#userEventTriggered, when an SslHandshakeCompletionEvent is received, the validator immediately calls ctx.fireUserEventTriggered(evt). It then initiates an asynchronous OCSP query using OcspClient.query. Because the handshake completion event is forwarded immediately, downstream handlers in the client's pipeline are notified that the TLS handshake is successful. They may then begin reading and processing incoming application data or sending outgoing data. If the OCSP response later indicates the server's certificate is REVOKED, the validator closes the channel, but by this time, the client may have already leaked sensitive data to a revoked server or processed malicious responses from it. This issue has been fixed in versions 4.1.136.Final and 4.2.16.Final.
Title io.netty/netty-handler-ssl-ocsp: Netty: Time-of-check/time-of-use in netty-handler-ssl-ocsp Netty: TOCTOU in OcspServerCertificateValidator
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in Netty's `netty-handler-ssl-ocsp` component. This vulnerability involves a time-of-check/time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition within the OCSP stapling validator. A remote attacker could exploit this timing window, allowing them to use a certificate that has been revoked for authentication purposes. This could lead to unauthorized access or bypass of security controls.
Title io.netty/netty-handler-ssl-ocsp: Netty: Time-of-check/time-of-use in netty-handler-ssl-ocsp
Weaknesses CWE-367
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

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'}

threat_severity

Important

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jul 30, 2026, 3:55 AM
Reserved
Jun 23, 2026, 2:55 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 29, 2026, 12:16 AM
Modified
Aug 7, 2026, 3:05 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Jul 9, 2026, 12:00 AM