Improper certificate validation in TIMLEGGE Net::SAML2
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Spoofing, Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-295 and CWE-347.
Summary
Net::SAML2 versions before 0.86 for Perl allow SAML authentication bypass by verifying responses against the response-embedded certificate in verify_xml when no trust anchor is configured. verify_xml in Net::SAML2::Role::VerifyXML runs "return if !$anchors && !$cacert;" as soon as the XML::Sig check succeeds, and that check uses the X.509 certificate taken from the response's own dsig:KeyInfo/dsig:X509Certificate element, so an unanchored response is checked only against the key it carries. Binding::POST declares cacert as an optional Maybe[Str] with no default, so a POST binding built without one takes that path, and _verify_encrypted_assertion returns early the same way with "return $xml unless $cacert;". Any caller that constructs Binding::POST or calls Assertion->new_from_xml without a cacert, cert_text, or anchors argument accepts a response signed by an attacker generated key whose self-signed certificate is embedded in that response, authenticating an arbitrary assertion.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- 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 Net::SAML2 (TIMLEGGE) Fixed in 0.86
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
TIMLEGGE Net::SAML2 0.86
3 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 2 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-14905 Improper signature verification in TIMLEGGE Net::SAML2Priority MEDIUM 49
- TI-2026-14891 Improper signature verification in TIMLEGGE Net::SAML2Priority LOW 35
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-18089
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-p5j9-p2w8-q5rw
References
Other 4
- https://metacpan.org/release/TIMLEGGE/Net-SAML2-0.88/source/Changes
- https://metacpan.org/release/TIMLEGGE/Net-SAML2-0.85/source/lib/Net/SAML2/Role/VerifyXML.pm#L32
- https://metacpan.org/release/TIMLEGGE/Net-SAML2-0.85/source/lib/Net/SAML2/Binding/POST.pm#L21
- https://metacpan.org/release/TIMLEGGE/Net-SAML2-0.85/source/lib/Net/SAML2/Protocol/Assertion.pm#L84
More TIMLEGGE Net vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-14905 Improper signature verification in TIMLEGGE Net::SAML2 CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-14891 Improper signature verification in TIMLEGGE Net::SAML2 CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
Sources
- CVE-2026-18089 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-18089 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-p5j9-p2w8-q5rw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences