# CVE-2026-95184: GnuTLS certificate validation bypass in name constraints

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-95184-improper-certificate-validation-in-gnutls-v3-8-13-causes-the  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-08. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-95184 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-10-08

GnuTLS is a widely used cryptographic library that secures communications for many applications and services. A flaw in version 3.8.13 allows attackers controlling a subordinate certificate authority to issue certificates for domains or organizations outside their permitted scope, which GnuTLS incorrectly accepts. This defeats PKI cross-domain restrictions and enables attackers to impersonate legitimate organizations or domains.

Vendors: [GnuTLS Project](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/gnutls-project).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-95184 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-95184 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-95184?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 8 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** GnuTLS Project GnuTLS 3.8.13.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-95184?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-95184 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-95184?** Check whether you run GnuTLS Project GnuTLS at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

GnuTLS 3.8.13 fails to enforce RFC 5280 permitted subtree constraints for directoryName and URI name forms in certificate path validation. The vulnerable check_unsupported_constraint() function iterates only the excluded list, never consulting the permitted list for DN or URI names, allowing a subordinate CA to issue end-entity certificates outside its constrained namespace. An attacker with control of a constrained subordinate CA can issue certificates that bypass these restrictions and be accepted by GnuTLS clients.

## Affected products

- GnuTLS Project GnuTLS 3.8.13

## Timeline

- 2026-10-08: disclosed: CVE-2026-95184 published
- 2026-04-29: other: GnuTLS 3.8.13 released

## References

- [https://gist.github.com/lkloliver/0c8b47fa75a0958fa88587665b82ae15](https://gist.github.com/lkloliver/0c8b47fa75a0958fa88587665b82ae15)
- [https://www.gnutls.org/](https://www.gnutls.org/)

## Related threats

- [GnuTLS X.509 name constraints bypass in certificate validation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-88648-incomplete-x-509-implementation-in-gnutls-v3-8-13-allows)