How severe is CVE-2009-5138?

CVE-2009-5138 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.8, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2009-5138 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (76th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-5138?

CVE-2009-5138 primarily affects Gnu Gnutls. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-5138?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2009-5138 published?

CVE-2009-5138 was published on 2014-03-07 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2009-5138

CVE-2009-5138 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Gnutls with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.8. 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-264.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 5.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (76th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-264
Affected product: Gnu Gnutls
Published: 2014-03-07
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

GnuTLS before 2.7.6, when the GNUTLS_VERIFY_ALLOW_X509_V1_CA_CRT flag is not enabled, treats version 1 X.509 certificates as intermediate CAs, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended restrictions by leveraging a X.509 V1 certificate from a trusted CA to issue new certificates, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-1959.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-5138?: GnuTLS before 2.7.6, when the GNUTLS_VERIFY_ALLOW_X509_V1_CA_CRT flag is not enabled, treats version 1 X.509 certificates as intermediate CAs, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended restrictions by leveraging a X.509 V1 certificate from a trusted CA to issue new certificates, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-1959.
How severe is CVE-2009-5138?: CVE-2009-5138 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.8, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2009-5138 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (76th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-5138?: CVE-2009-5138 primarily affects Gnu Gnutls. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2009-5138?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2009-5138 published?: CVE-2009-5138 was published on 2014-03-07 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (6)

cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:2.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:2.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:2.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:2.7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:2.7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Gnu Gnutls

CVE-2008-1948 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The _gnutls_server_name_recv_params function in lib/ext_server_name.c in libgnutls in gnutls-serv in GnuTLS before…
CVE-2021-20232 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A flaw was found in gnutls. A use after free issue in client_send_params in lib/ext/pre_shared_key.c may lead to memory…
CVE-2021-20231 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A flaw was found in gnutls. A use after free issue in client sending key_share extension may lead to memory corruption…
CVE-2017-5337 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in the read_attribute function in GnuTLS before 3.3.26 and 3.5.x before 3.5.8…
CVE-2017-5336 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Stack-based buffer overflow in the cdk_pk_get_keyid function in lib/opencdk/pubkey.c in GnuTLS before 3.3.26 and 3.5.x…
CVE-2017-5334 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Double free vulnerability in the gnutls_x509_ext_import_proxy function in GnuTLS before 3.3.26 and 3.5.x before 3.5.8…

All CVEs affecting Gnu Gnutls →

Other CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities

CVE-2016-8363 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An issue was discovered in Moxa OnCell OnCellG3470A-LTE, AWK-1131A/3131A/4131A Series, AWK-3191 Series, AWK-5232/6232…
CVE-2016-7457 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): VMware vRealize Operations (aka vROps) 6.x before 6.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges, or halt…
CVE-2015-7425 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Data Protection component in the VMware vSphere GUI in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments: Data…
CVE-2015-8267 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The PasswordReset.Controllers.ResetController.ChangePasswordIndex method in PasswordReset.dll in Dovestones AD Self…
CVE-2015-7919 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SearchBlox 8.3 before 8.3.1 allows remote attackers to write to the config file, and consequently cause a denial of…
CVE-2015-7071 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The File Bookmark component in Apple OS X before 10.11.2 allows attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism for…

Browse all CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities →