CVE-2026-33896 HIGH

CVE-2026-33896: Forge has a basicConstraints bypass in its certificate chain verification (RFC 5280 violation)

Vendor Digitalbazaar
Product forge
Weakness CWE-295
Published March 27, 2026
Last update June 30, 2026
View on NVD All CVEs

CVSS base score

7.4/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity High
Privileges required None
User interaction None
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

What the vulnerability does

01Description

Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. Prior to version 1.4.0, `pki.verifyCertificateChain()` does not enforce RFC 5280 basicConstraints requirements when an intermediate certificate lacks both the `basicConstraints` and `keyUsage` extensions. This allows any leaf certificate (without these extensions) to act as a CA and sign other certificates, which node-forge will accept as valid. Version 1.4.0 patches the issue.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

March 27, 2026 CVE published
June 30, 2026 Record updated