CVE-2009-2730

CVE-2009-2730 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Gnutls with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-310.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 7.5)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (80th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-310
• Affected product: Gnu Gnutls
• Published: 2009-08-12
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

libgnutls in GnuTLS before 2.8.2 does not properly handle a '\0' character in a domain name in the subject's (1) Common Name (CN) or (2) Subject Alternative Name (SAN) field of an X.509 certificate, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof arbitrary SSL servers via a crafted certificate issued by a legitimate Certification Authority.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-2730?

libgnutls in GnuTLS before 2.8.2 does not properly handle a '\0' character in a domain name in the subject's (1) Common Name (CN) or (2) Subject Alternative Name (SAN) field of an X.509 certificate, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof arbitrary SSL servers via a crafted certificate issued by a legitimate Certification Authority.

How severe is CVE-2009-2730?

CVE-2009-2730 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2009-2730 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (80th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-2730?

CVE-2009-2730 primarily affects Gnu Gnutls. In total, 121 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-2730?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2009-2730 published?

CVE-2009-2730 was published on 2009-08-12 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://article.gmane.org/gmane.network.gnutls.general/1733
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-09/msg00001.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36266
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36496
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/08/14/6
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1232.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/507985/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1022777
• http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0016.html
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/52404
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10778
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8409
• https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0095.html

Affected products (121)

• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.0.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.1.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.8.1a1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.2.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:1.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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