Invalid handling of X509_verify_cert() internal errors in libssl
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-835.
Summary
Internally libssl in OpenSSL calls X509_verify_cert() on the client side to verify a certificate supplied by a server. That function may return a negative return value to indicate an internal error (for example out of memory). Such a negative return value is mishandled by OpenSSL and will cause an IO function (such as SSL_connect() or SSL_do_handshake()) to not indicate success and a subsequent call to SSL_get_error() to return the value SSL_ERROR_WANT_RETRY_VERIFY. This return value is only supposed to be returned by OpenSSL if the application has previously called SSL_CTX_set_cert_verify_callback(). Since most applications do not do this the SSL_ERROR_WANT_RETRY_VERIFY return value from SSL_get_error() will be totally unexpected and applications may not behave correctly as a result. The exact behaviour will depend on the application but it could result in crashes, infinite loops or other similar incorrect responses. This issue is made more serious in combination with a separate bug in OpenSSL 3.0 that will cause X509_verify_cert() to indicate an internal error when processing a certificate chain. This will occur where a certificate does not include the Subject Alternative Name extension but where a Certificate Authority has enforced name constraints. This issue can occur even with valid chains. By combining the two issues an attacker could induce incorrect, application dependent behaviour. Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.1 (Affected 3.0.0).
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSSL | OpenSSL | Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.1 (Affected 3.0.0) | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| — | openssl-src (crates.io) | 300.0.0 to before 300.0.4 | 300.0.4 | Patch available | GHSA-mmjf-f5jw-w72q |
- OpenSSL VendorOpenSSL Affected Fixed in OpenSSL 3.0.1 (Affected 3.0.0) Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- openssl-src (crates.io) Vendor— Affected 300.0.0 to before 300.0.4 Fixed in 300.0.4 Patch available GHSA-mmjf-f5jw-w72q
CPE configurations NVD · 28
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.0.2 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.1.0 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0.0 | Vulnerable | OpenSSL |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:cloud_backup:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:e-series_performance_analyzer:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:snapcenter:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:a250_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:a250:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:500f_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.0.2 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:1.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1.0 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:openssl:openssl:3.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 Vulnerable ·OpenSSL
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:cloud_backup:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:e-series_performance_analyzer:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:snapcenter:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:a250_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:a250:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:500f_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
Show 18 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:500f:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h500s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h500s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h700s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h700s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h300e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h300e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h500e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h500e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h700e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h700e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h410s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410c_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h410c:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h300s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h300s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:* | 17.0.0 to before 17.3.0 | Vulnerable | NodeJS |
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:500f:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h500s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h500s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h700s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h700s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h300e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h300e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h500e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h500e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h700e_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h700e:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h410s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h410c_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h410c:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:h300s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:h300s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 17.0.0 to before 17.3.0 Vulnerable ·NodeJS
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-mmjf-f5jw-w72q openssl-src (crates.io) Fixed in 300.0.4 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 8 products
- Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes 2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat JBoss Core Services
- Red Hat JBoss Web Server 3
- Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-4044
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mmjf-f5jw-w72q
References
Advisory 3
Other 4
- https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=758754966791c537ea95241438454aa86f91f256
- https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git;a=commitdiff;h=758754966791c537ea95241438454aa86f91f256
- https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2021-0129.html
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211229-0003
More Openssl vulnerabilities
- TI-2022-01915 The c_rehash script allows command injection CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-02645 SM2 Decryption Buffer Overflow CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2009-03392 The TLS protocol, and the SSL protocol 3.0 and possibly earlier, as used in Microsoft… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-01176 The c_rehash script allows command injection CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2014-00154 The (1) TLS and (2) DTLS implementations in OpenSSL 1.0.1 before 1.0.1g do not properly… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-14107 Stack buffer overflow in CMS (Auth)EnvelopedData parsing CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-4044 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-4044 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mmjf-f5jw-w72q · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-4044 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences