CVE-2026-86038

libp2p: Gossipsub StrictSign accepts attacker-signed messages as a victim RSA peer ID

Published Sep 17, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
libp2p is a JavaScript implementation of the libp2p networking stack. From 15.0.0 until 16.0.5, @libp2p/gossipsub uses the default StrictSign policy in packages/gossipsub/src/utils/buildRawMessage.ts, where validateToRawMessage verifies a signature with attacker-controlled msg.key but skips binding that key to msg.from when the claimed author is an RSA peer ID that does not inline a public key. An unauthenticated attacker can place a victim RSA peer ID in msg.from, sign the message with the attacker's private key, and supply the attacker's public key in msg.key, causing the message to be accepted and propagated as authored by the victim. Applications that trust message.from for validators, authorization, accounting, moderation, reputation, or audit logging can process attacker-controlled data under false origin attribution. The issue is fixed in version 16.0.5.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-c3gv-825q-fvmp libp2p: Gossipsub StrictSign accepts attacker-signed messages as a victim RSA peer ID
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Libp2p
Libp2p libp2p
Vendors & Products Libp2p
Libp2p libp2p
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description libp2p is a JavaScript implementation of the libp2p networking stack. From 15.0.0 until 16.0.5, @libp2p/gossipsub uses the default StrictSign policy in packages/gossipsub/src/utils/buildRawMessage.ts, where validateToRawMessage verifies a signature with attacker-controlled msg.key but skips binding that key to msg.from when the claimed author is an RSA peer ID that does not inline a public key. An unauthenticated attacker can place a victim RSA peer ID in msg.from, sign the message with the attacker's private key, and supply the attacker's public key in msg.key, causing the message to be accepted and propagated as authored by the victim. Applications that trust message.from for validators, authorization, accounting, moderation, reputation, or audit logging can process attacker-controlled data under false origin attribution. The issue is fixed in version 16.0.5.
Title libp2p: Gossipsub StrictSign accepts attacker-signed messages as a victim RSA peer ID
Weaknesses CWE-345
CWE-347
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Sep 17, 2026, 5:24 PM
Reserved
Sep 4, 2026, 7:29 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Sep 17, 2026, 4:18 PM
Modified
Sep 30, 2026, 5:51 PM