Caliptra Update-Reset Secure-Boot Bypass via Attacker-Chosen AXI Staging Address (TOCTOU)
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) vulnerability combined with missing input validation in Caliptra Core ROM (UpdateResetFlow::run()) in subsystem mode allows a compromised local attacker to silently bypass secure boot by supplying an AXI staging address that is not validated against the strap-configured SS_EXTERNAL_STAGING_AREA_BASE_ADDR, enabling firmware to be modified between verification and loading into ICCM. Attestation continues to report the originally verified image digest, masking the compromise. Exploitation requires a compromised MCU firmware with AXI manager access to unprotected SRAM reachable by Caliptra. This issue affects Core ROM: 2.1.0 through 2.1.1.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Core ROM (Caliptra) Fixed in 2.1.2
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-11835
References
More Caliptra vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-05099 MCU Firmware Update Authentication Bypass on Caliptra Core CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.2
- TI-2026-06435 Unverified AXI Address in Subsystem Mode Commands Enables Denial of Service CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.8
- TI-2026-05666 AES-256-GCM Authentication Tag Does Not Cover First Ciphertext Blocks When AAD Is Empty CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.1
- TI-2026-10214 Production Debug-Unlock Token Verification Missing Device Binding CVSS 4.0LOW 1.8
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences