CVE-2026-118776: Forge · Incomplete PKCS#7 padding validation in AES/DES CBC and ECB decryption
Affects node-forgeSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 3.7 Low : upgrade to 1.4.1 when convenient.
Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 17:36 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (GitHub_M) | CVSS 3.1 | 3.7 |
|---|
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 1.4.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 29 Oct 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 10 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade node-forge to 1.4.1.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| npmnode-forge | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
Upgrade node-forge to version 1.4.1 or later, which enforces correct PKCS#7 padding validation. If upgrading is not immediately possible, applications should authenticate ciphertext before decryption (e.g., using an HMAC) or switch to authenticated encryption modes such as AES-GCM. For version 1.4.0, disable automatic unpadding by setting `decipher.mode.unpad = false` and implement padding validation in application code. Note that the fix does not protect against padding oracle attacks; proper authentication of ciphertext is required.
Description
A vulnerability in node-forge versions prior to 1.4.1 causes incomplete validation of PKCS#7 padding during AES and DES decryption in CBC and ECB modes. The decryption function only checked the last padding byte and allowed malformed padding, including zero counts and oversized counts, which could silently remove up to four blocks of plaintext. This flaw was fixed in node-forge 1.4.1 by enforcing strict PKCS#7 padding validation. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability but could allow attackers to manipulate ciphertext to cause silent plaintext truncation. Applications decrypting untrusted data with CBC or ECB mode should authenticate ciphertext or use authenticated encryption modes like AES-GCM.
References
- github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/security/advisories/GHSA-2vgq-wchc-25w7 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118776 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/commit/81774ff99e2da64aec9a43591df45a360040c136 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/digitalbazaar/forge (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/digitalbazaar/forge/releases/tag/v1.4.1 (opens in a new tab)