OpenSSL PKCS#12 PBMAC1 forging CVE-2026-34181
CVE-2026-34181 Published on June 9, 2026
PKCS#12 Files with PBMAC1 Are Accepted with Short HMAC Keys
Issue Summary: The PKCS#12 file processing fails to perform sufficient input
validation for files that use Password-Based Message Authentication Code 1
(PBMAC1) integrity mechanism allowing a certificate and private key forgery.
Impact Summary: An attacker impersonating a user can cause a service reading
PKCS#12 files to accept forged certificates and private keys with a 1 in 256
probability.
If a service accepting PKCS#12 files is using passwords for authenticating
the received files, the attacker can create unencrypted PKCS#12 files that
use PBMAC1 authentication that specifies an HMAC key of only one byte, allowing
them to craft a file that will be accepted with a 1 in 256 probability.
That would then cause the service to accept a certificate and private key
controlled by the attacker.
The FIPS modules are not affected by this issue, as the affected code is
outside the OpenSSL FIPS module boundary.
Weakness Type
Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value
The software does not validate or incorrectly validates the integrity check values or "checksums" of a message. This may prevent it from detecting if the data has been modified or corrupted in transmission. Improper validation of checksums before use results in an unnecessary risk that can easily be mitigated. The protocol specification describes the algorithm used for calculating the checksum. It is then a simple matter of implementing the calculation and verifying that the calculated checksum and the received checksum match. Improper verification of the calculated checksum and the received checksum can lead to far greater consequences.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-34181
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Affected Versions
OpenSSL:- Version 4.0.0 and below 4.0.1 is affected.
- Version 3.6.0 and below 3.6.3 is affected.
- Version 3.5.0 and below 3.5.7 is affected.
- Version 3.4.0 and below 3.4.6 is affected.