The X509_V_FLAG_X509_STRICT flag enables additional security checks of the certificates present in a certificate chain. It is not set by default. Starting from OpenSSL version 1.1.1h a check to disallow certificates in the chain that have explicitly encoded elliptic curve parameters was added as an additional strict check. An error in the implementation of this check meant that the result of a previous check to confirm that certificates in the chain are valid CA certificates was overwritten. This effectively bypasses the check that non-CA certificates must not be able to issue other certificates. If a "purpose" has been configured then there is a subsequent opportunity for checks that the certificate is a valid CA. All of the named "purpose" values implemented in libcrypto perform this check. Therefore, where a purpose is set the certificate chain will still be rejected even when the strict flag has been used. A purpose is set by default in libssl client and server certificate verification routines, but it can be overridden or removed by an application. In order to be affected, an application must explicitly set the X509_V_FLAG_X509_STRICT verification flag and either not set a purpose for the certificate verification or, in the case of TLS client or server applications, override the default purpose. OpenSSL versions 1.1.1h and newer are affected by this issue. Users of these versions should upgrade to OpenSSL 1.1.1k. OpenSSL 1.0.2 is not impacted by this issue. Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1k (Affected 1.1.1h-1.1.1j).
This vulnerability carries a HIGH severity rating with a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.4, indicating it can be exploited remotely over the network but requires specific conditions to be met without requiring user interaction and does not require pre-existing privileges . The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (data exposure), integrity (unauthorized modifications), for affected systems. Impacting 35 products from openssl, from freebsd, from netapp and 32 others, organizations running these solutions should prioritize assessment and patching.
Reported in 2021, this vulnerability emerged during an era marked by increased sophistication in supply chain attacks, cloud infrastructure vulnerabilities, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) security challenges. Security practices during this period emphasized zero-trust architectures, container security, and API protection.
2021-03-25T15:15:13.560
2026-06-17T04:05:07.557
Modified
CVSSv3.1: 7.4 (HIGH)
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
8.6
4.9
| Type | Vendor | Product | Version/Range | Vulnerable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application | openssl | openssl | < 1.1.1k | Yes |
| Operating System | freebsd | freebsd | 12.2 | Yes |
| Operating System | freebsd | freebsd | 12.2 | Yes |
| Operating System | freebsd | freebsd | 12.2 | Yes |
| Operating System | netapp | santricity_smi-s_provider_firmware | - | Yes |
| Hardware | netapp | santricity_smi-s_provider | - | No |
| Operating System | netapp | storagegrid_firmware | - | Yes |
| Hardware | netapp | storagegrid | - | No |
| Operating System | windriver | linux | - | Yes |
| Operating System | windriver | linux | 17.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | windriver | linux | 18.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | windriver | linux | 19.0 | Yes |
| Application | netapp | cloud_volumes_ontap_mediator | - | Yes |
| Application | netapp | oncommand_workflow_automation | - | Yes |
| Application | netapp | ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility | - | Yes |
| Application | netapp | storagegrid | - | Yes |
| Operating System | fedoraproject | fedora | 34 | Yes |
| Application | tenable | nessus | ≤ 8.13.1 | Yes |
| Application | tenable | nessus_agent | ≤ 8.2.3 | Yes |
| Application | tenable | nessus_network_monitor | 5.11.0 | Yes |
| Application | tenable | nessus_network_monitor | 5.11.1 | Yes |
| Application | tenable | nessus_network_monitor | 5.12.0 | Yes |
| Application | tenable | nessus_network_monitor | 5.12.1 | Yes |
| Application | tenable | nessus_network_monitor | 5.13.0 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | commerce_guided_search | 11.3.2 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | enterprise_manager_for_storage_management | 13.4.0.0 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | graalvm | 19.3.5 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | graalvm | 20.3.1.2 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | graalvm | 21.0.0.2 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | jd_edwards_enterpriseone_tools | < 9.2.6.0 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | jd_edwards_world_security | a9.4 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | mysql_connectors | ≤ 8.0.23 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | mysql_enterprise_monitor | ≤ 8.0.23 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | mysql_server | ≤ 5.7.33 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | mysql_server | ≤ 8.0.23 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | mysql_workbench | ≤ 8.0.23 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | peoplesoft_enterprise_peopletools | ≤ 8.59 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | secure_backup | < 18.1.0.1.0 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | secure_global_desktop | 5.6 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | weblogic_server | 12.2.1.4.0 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | weblogic_server | 14.1.1.0.0 | Yes |
| Application | mcafee | web_gateway | 8.2.19 | Yes |
| Application | mcafee | web_gateway | 9.2.10 | Yes |
| Application | mcafee | web_gateway | 10.1.1 | Yes |
| Application | mcafee | web_gateway_cloud_service | 8.2.19 | Yes |
| Application | mcafee | web_gateway_cloud_service | 9.2.10 | Yes |
| Application | mcafee | web_gateway_cloud_service | 10.1.1 | Yes |
| Operating System | sonicwall | sma100_firmware | < 10.2.1.0-17sv | Yes |
| Hardware | sonicwall | sma100 | - | No |
| Application | sonicwall | capture_client | < 3.6.24 | Yes |
| Application | sonicwall | email_security | < 10.0.11 | Yes |
| Operating System | sonicwall | sonicos | ≤ 7.0.1-r1456 | Yes |
| Application | nodejs | node.js | < 10.24.1 | Yes |
| Application | nodejs | node.js | < 12.22.1 | Yes |
| Application | nodejs | node.js | < 14.16.1 | Yes |
| Application | nodejs | node.js | < 15.14.0 | Yes |
SecUtils normalizes and enriches National Vulnerability Database (NVD) records by standardizing vendor and product identifiers, aggregating vulnerability metadata from both NVD and MITRE sources, and providing structured context for security teams. For openssl's affected products, we extract Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) data, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classifications, CVSS severity metrics, and reference data to enable rapid vulnerability prioritization and asset correlation. This record contains no exploit code, proof-of-concept instructions, or attack methodologies—only defensive intelligence necessary for patch management, risk assessment, and security operations.