CVE-2014-1959

CVE-2014-1959 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: 3% (87th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-264
• Affected product: Gnu Gnutls
• Published: 2014-03-07
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

lib/x509/verify.c in GnuTLS before 3.1.21 and 3.2.x before 3.2.11 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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2014-1959?

lib/x509/verify.c in GnuTLS before 3.1.21 and 3.2.x before 3.2.11 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.

How severe is CVE-2014-1959?

CVE-2014-1959 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.8, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2014-1959 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (87th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2014-1959?

CVE-2014-1959 primarily affects Gnu Gnutls. In total, 32 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2014-1959?

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

When was CVE-2014-1959 published?

CVE-2014-1959 was published on 2014-03-07 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2014/q1/344
• http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2014/q1/345
• http://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-2866
• http://www.gnutls.org/security.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/65559
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2121-1
• https://www.gitorious.org/gnutls/gnutls/commit/b1abfe3d182d68539900092eb42fc62cf1bb7e7c

Affected products (32)

• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.1.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gnutls:3.2.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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