mod_gnutils has stack-based buffer overflow caused by a long client certificate chain
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 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-121 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Mod_gnutls is a TLS module for Apache HTTPD based on GnuTLS. In versions prior to 0.12.3 and 0.13.0, code for client certificate verification imported the certificate chain sent by the client into a fixed size `gnutls_x509_crt_t x509[]` array without checking the number of certificates is less than or equal to the array size. `gnutls_x509_crt_t` is a `typedef` for a pointer to an opaque GnuTLS structure created using with `gnutls_x509_crt_init()` before importing certificate data into it, so no attacker-controlled data was written into the stack buffer, but writing a pointer after the last array element generally triggered a segfault, and could theoretically cause stack corruption otherwise (not observed in practice). Server configurations that do not use client certificates (`GnuTLSClientVerify ignore`, the default) are not affected. The problem has been fixed in version 0.12.3 by checking the length of the provided certificate chain and rejecting it if it exceeds the buffer length, and in version 0.13.0 by rewriting certificate verification to use `gnutls_certificate_verify_peers()`, removing the need for the buffer entirely. There is no workaround. Version 0.12.3 provides the minimal fix for users of 0.12.x who do not wish to upgrade to 0.13.0 yet.
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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| airtower-luna | mod_gnutls | before 0.12.3 | 0.12.3 | Patch available | CNA |
- mod_gnutls Vendorairtower-luna Affected before 0.12.3 Fixed in 0.12.3 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:mod_gnutls_project:mod_gnutls:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 0.12.3 | Vulnerable | airtower-luna |
- cpe:2.3:a:mod_gnutls_project:mod_gnutls:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 0.12.3 Vulnerable ·airtower-luna
Remediation
- Fix · CNA mod_gnutls (airtower-luna) Fixed in 0.12.3
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-33307
References
More airtower-luna Mod Gnutls vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-11094 mod_gnutls contains Infinite Loop on request read timeout CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2009-04890 mod-gnutls does not validate client certificates when "GnuTLSClientVerify require" is set… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-25719 mod_gnutls missing key purpose check in client certificate verification CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-33307 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-33307 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-33307 · 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