# CVE-2026-118778: Forge: TLS client crash when the server sends no certificate

Status: published. Published: 2026-10-29. Updated: 2026-11-03.

Forge (also called node-forge) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. Prior to 1.4.1, the affected implementation used forge.tls.createConnection(), c.session.serverCertificate, RSA key exchange to process the relevant input or security decision. node-forge's TLS client checked the wrong property when deciding whether a server certificate was missing. A malicious TLS server or on-path peer could omit the Certificate message and reach code that dereferenced the absent certificate, causing an uncaught exception and terminating the connection or process. This issue is fixed in version 1.4.1.

## Remediation

- fix: node-forge (npm): OSV reports a fixed version 1.4.1. Check the advisory for supported release branches. (source: OSV GHSA-525v-9gp9-w22h) — https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-525v-9gp9-w22h

## Affected products and versions

- digitalbazaar / forge: < 1.4.1 (affected). Source: CNA: GitHub_M
-  / node-forge (node-forge): ≥ 0; < 1.4.1 (affected, semver); OSV events: introduced 0; fixed 1.4.1. Source: OSV GHSA-525v-9gp9-w22h

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 5.9 (medium); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H; source: CNA: GitHub_M

- CVSS 3.1: 5.9 (medium); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H; source: NVD: security-advisories@github.com

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.20% as of 2026-11-03; percentile 10.39%

- SSVC: exploitation poc; automatable no; technical impact partial; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-476

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/security/advisories/GHSA-525v-9gp9-w22h (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_CONFIRM)

- https://github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/commit/7be9fbd40df2e2f15f29fea2846b1c87d58f6888 (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_MISC)

- https://github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/releases/tag/v1.4.1 (CNA: GitHub_M; x_refsource_MISC)

- https://github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/commit/7be9fbd40df2e2f15f29fea2846b1c87d58f6888 (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/releases/tag/v1.4.1 (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/security/advisories/GHSA-525v-9gp9-w22h (security-advisories@github.com)

- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-525v-9gp9-w22h (OSV / GitHub Security Advisories; advisory)

- https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-525v-9gp9-w22h (OSV / GitHub Security Advisories; osv)

## Provenance

- CNA: GitHub_M: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-118778; retrieved 2026-11-03; source updated 2026-11-03

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118778; retrieved 2026-11-03; source updated 2026-11-03

- OSV / GitHub Security Advisories: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-525v-9gp9-w22h; retrieved 2026-11-03; source updated 2026-10-30

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-118778; retrieved 2026-11-03; source updated Not reported

Revision: a9b86d535d8bb8c5b83b000fa03713f6035832e4c3f7299fb3347945467f6247

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-118778

## Agent and API access

Public CVE pages, Markdown, and JSON are free to read without an account or API key.

- Public catalog: https://y2.dev/cve/index.json. Follow nextCursor with the same search, filters, sort, and limit (1–100). A null cursor marks the end.

- WebMCP: search_cve_disclosures, get_cve_disclosure, get_cve_page_markdown, get_y2_cve_access. Available in compatible browsers.

- Cyber API: https://api.y2.dev/api/v2/cyber/cves and https://api.y2.dev/api/v2/cyber/cves/{cveId}.

- Y2 Pro or Elite: create a workspace API key with the intel:cyber scope and send Authorization: Bearer <Y2_API_KEY>. Setup: https://y2.dev/docs/api/create-key.

- x402: Pay per request without an account or API key. Omit Authorization, read the HTTP 402 PAYMENT-REQUIRED challenge, validate its current requirements, and retry with PAYMENT-SIGNATURE through an authorized payment client. These browser tools never make payments. Guide: https://y2.dev/docs/api/x402.

- OpenAPI: https://y2.dev/api/openapi.yaml. Agent access metadata: https://y2.dev/cve/agent.json.

Collected public records only. Check source status for coverage and freshness.