Skip to content

go-tuf improperly validates the configured threshold for delegations

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Jan 20, 2026 in theupdateframework/go-tuf • Updated Jan 22, 2026

Package

gomod github.com/theupdateframework/go-tuf/v2 (Go)

Affected versions

< 2.3.1

Patched versions

2.3.1

Description

Security Disclosure: Improper validation of configured threshold for delegations

Summary

A compromised or misconfigured TUF repository can have the configured value of signature thresholds set to 0, which effectively disables signature verification.

Impact

Unathorized modification to TUF metadata files is possible at rest, or during transit as no integrity checks are made.

Patches

Upgrade to v2.3.1

Workarounds

Always make sure that the TUF metadata roles are configured with a threshold of at least 1.

Affected code:

The metadata.VerifyDelegate did not verify the configured threshold prior to comparison. This means that a misconfigured TUF repository could disable the signature verification by setting the threshold to 0, or a negative value (and so always make the signature threshold computation to pass).

References

@kommendorkapten kommendorkapten published to theupdateframework/go-tuf Jan 20, 2026
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Jan 21, 2026
Reviewed Jan 21, 2026
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Jan 22, 2026
Last updated Jan 22, 2026

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
High
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(1st percentile)

Weaknesses

Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature

The product does not verify, or incorrectly verifies, the cryptographic signature for data. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2026-23992

GHSA ID

GHSA-fphv-w9fq-2525

Source code

Credits

Loading Checking history
See something to contribute? Suggest improvements for this vulnerability.